 Miranda Hill speaks with Paul Barritt about bringing the essence of silent films to the stage.
1927 was a momentous year for cinema. Alfred Hitchcock
released his first feature film; Mae West was briefly jailed for obscenity; and
Wings became the only silent film to
receive the Best Film award. It was also the year in which Al Johnson uttered
the first word ever heard on the silver screen. His movie, The Jazz Singer, heralded the end of the silent era, paving the way
for ‘talkies’ and leading into the well-scored, sound effect-laden movies we
know today.
Paul Barritt and Suzanne Andrade, Artistic Directors of the UK theatre
company 1927, feel such an affinity for the golden age of silent cinema that
they have recreated the experience of going to ‘the flicks’ in their homage to
the roaring Twenties, Between the Devil
and the Deep Blue Sea.
But why the interest in the silent era?
“[There’s a] brilliant theatricality about silent films;
they looked so nice, and films have never really got back to that,” Barritt
says animatedly, as he discusses the company’s current production; which has
grown from a short show performed in the back rooms of pubs with just one light
and a video projector, to this show that has travelled the world.
Between the Devil and
the Deep Blue Sea sees live music played by pianist Lillian Henley and
Barritt’s original silent films providing the backdrop for Andrade’s twisted
tales and vengeful vignettes, which are brought to life by herself and fellow
performer Esme Appleton.
The resulting show, Barritt says, is “macabre, a humorously
dark journey where childhood fairy tales are filtered through the lens of old
horror movies”.
The overall effect is of stepping into the screen and becoming
part of the film itself; and resulted in the production becoming the smash hit
of last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning five awards and selling out
its four week season. Consequently, 1927 have toured this show all around the
world, including Sri Lanka, Korea and New
York City, winning additional accolades at every port.
Taking the show to different countries has raised some difficulties,
with pieces that reference Enid Blyton (“A lot of our show has come from
Suzanne’s childhood, it’s such an important part of your life, it shapes so
much.”) not translating well in the USA. As a result, the members of
1927 have learnt much about the variances of international humour.
“Americans like visual stuff, animation stuff; Australians
seem to laugh like an English crowd,” Barritt explains.
With just two actresses, a pianist and video operator, 1927
create a world of dark fairy tales and macabre humour, inviting the audience to
appreciate the slightly twisted view from behind the silver screen.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea runs from July 1 - 13 at
The CUB Malthouse Theatre. www.malthousetheatre.com.au
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When silence was golden
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