 'Silent' A New play by Lee H. Smith Sheffield Library Theatre, Sheffield, England postponed due to illness in cast |
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'Silent' represents an attempt to put together a series of short scenes to portray some of the problems that the Silent stars encountered as the big film companies began to take ever greater control over artistic freedom. Using events from the lives of DW Griffith, Lilian Gish, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle, it tries to explain the pressure the Owners were under to 'conform' in the face of mounting censorship. Although far from a totally serious play (it opens with a compilation of Keaton's silent work), it does hit home that great films need improvisation and creativity rather than to follow a rigid methodology. Provisionally, the play will be put on at the Sheffield Library Theatre on (check for new date). More Details contact us |