Silence

Silence may be set in the Dark Ages, but don't mistake its comic intentions. At the same time, don't underestimate the undercurrent of unrest that playwright Moira Buffini paints regarding class struggle, gender identity, and tyranny. The only problem with Silence is that as it trundles along, the comedy becomes more and more enmeshed with the drama, and characters who were once amusing grow bogged down with bitterness. It's not a major complaint, for the actors are competent in both comic and serious roles, but it resembles the same problem that the show has: finding the right transition from one scene to the next; heck, finding the right transition within the scenes, what with all the jumping from narration to action. Still, the pacing is as straightforward as the religious banter, and Silence is at least worth talking about.