Writer Tom Powell’s The Silence & The Noise is an outstanding digital offering, a crooked love story, both mired in desperation and oddly charming. There’s an inevitable comparison to Becket as the play opens on a rural confrontation between the teenaged Daize (Rachelle Diedericks) and Ben (William Robinson).
Why is the knife-wielding Daize determined to keep Ben from her mother’s door? What does the school-tie-wearing Ben want with her mum, and why is he so nonchalant when faced with a blade?
The answers will emerge naturally and in good time in this thoroughly well-written and directed short. Co-directors Rachel Lambert and Elle While exhibit a fine sense of pace and momentum, coaxing excellent performances from the two leads. As with every two-hander, however, chemistry is this play’s critical quality and one which Diedricks and Robinson have in spades.
“The Silence & The Noise is an outstanding digital offering, a crooked love story, both mired in desperation and oddly charming.”
We believe their gradual, but inevitable evolution from enemies to bosom pals, indeed it seems destined from their first words on opposite sides of a knife. We feel distrust turn to mutual recognition of each other’s vulnerability, the addict’s daughter and the drug dealer’s groomed lackey both in dire need of some sort of security.
The gradual exposition of their plights unfolds through a sequence of meetings, most about a tattered sofa left in a rapidly rewilding garden. Gradually the spikes fall from both, though not before each one’s natural defensiveness scores points deep in the other’s self-image. Luke Collins‘ excellent photography captures their interactions slickly but without an excess of style. Temptations to unusual angles and framing are resisted, with excellent, organically digestible results.
Perhaps one has to suspend a little too much belief to buy into Daize’s willingness to open communications with her mother’s dealer, but far odder alliances have arisen through humanity’s long history. On the other hand, when matters reach a truly hideous crisis, Robinson seems to capture the trauma of the moment just a little more authentically than Diedericks.
These are minor notes upon what is otherwise a superb piece of theatrical filmmaking. Billy Lambert’s soundtrack also deserves a mention – unobtrusive but evocative, capturing the poisoned idyl of Powell’s drama.
“As with every two-hander, however, chemistry is this play’s critical quality and one which Diedricks and Robinson have in spades.”
It’s clear to see why The Silence & The Noise has gathered so many award nominations including ‘Best Online Production’ at the soon-to-be-announced Off West End Awards. Captivating from start to end, and incredibly easy to invest in, this is a fine production benefiting from a talented cast and crew.
All Images: Supplied by Pentabus
The Silence & The Noise is presented by Pentabus & Rural Media.
Show Details
Venue: Streaming on Demand – YouTube
Age Recommendation: 15+
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