Small Mouth Sounds
3.5 out of 5 stars
What on earth is Small Mouth Sounds about? I must confess as much as anything, the answer to the question is a large part of what drove me to purchase my tickets. I think we have a right to know. As it turns out, Small Mouth Sounds, written by Bess Wohl and directed by Rachel Chavkin, is barely about sounds at all. It “speaks” far more about the human condition.
As many of you may be aware, the silent retreat has gained a level of popularity skirting if not entering the mainstream. This is where our story takes place. Remaining captivating for nearly two hours would seem an almost impossible task, but this production does indeed accomplish that feat.
This is the story of six attendees; all but two are complete strangers to each other. Somewhat amazingly, over the several days covered in the course of this play, with almost nothing said, our characters become fully developed. That is the brilliance of this production and the reason behind its popularity.
The two characters who aren’t strangers are a mother/daughter unit. Observing the minefield that can exist in this pairing without verbal language is fascinating. Our other characters include the self-righteous exhibitionist; the whacky, completely frayed around the edges, trying to put her life together 30-something; the enthusiastic, unquestioning believer, searching for life’s meaning; and the old guy who brings warmth laced with sadness to our troupe of misfits.
Finally, there is “the voice” (remember this is about sound) and depending on your perspective, lands somewhere between holy spiritual leader and snake oil salesman.
For me, in under two hours, this story provides precisely what I would expect to experience in one of these multi-day events. I found it entertaining, funny, clever and at times sad, with a few shocking and surprising twists, and I saved a lot of time in the process.
Why we went: What the hell is this play about?
JMG
As of October 1st, we have implemented a star rating system with plays rated on a 1 - 5 star basis .
3-stars is worth seeing.
4-stars is walk, don’t run.
5-stars is run, don’t walk (a thrilling experience).
Side Notes: Just up 42nd from the Signature Theatre is a favorite Chinese restaurant. Ollie's Sichuan has good food and efficient service. Our pre-theater dinner included the house special wonton soup, dumplings in red chili oil, beef chow fun, and eggplant in garlic sauce. Every bite was delicious. Our neighbor gave us a taste of the spicy lamb and it was extraordinary.
