Austinist Reader Review: Zell Miller III's "The Evidence of Silence Broken"

That wasn't how it went, though. The show follows an easy rhythm - or rather, a series of easy rhythms. Sometimes blisteringly fast, and sometimes wonderfully slow, the playwright's story plays out in little slices of life, which are usually bookended by funny, often famous quotes from a variety of actors, artists, and activists. As Miller's performance takes you up, down, and around several pin curves, the words he uses - the lyrics, if you will - ring in your ears and stay with you well beyond each little slice. At times it is hard to keep up, but the effect is exhilarating.

And the performance stays with you well beyond the end of the show. In a particularly moving segment, Miller speaks of his yearning to touch, to be held by, somehow reach the heavily guarded personification of Safety. Our husband asked us on the way home, "So who was in the insane asylum do you suppose? His mother?" It took us a moment to realize that what we had interpreted as fortification intended to keep Miller out - the language of the segment speaks of barbed wire and similar images - our husband has seen as imprisonment to keep Safety in. The scene is one of several that we are still puzzling over. It's a perfect example what critics mean when that call a piece "thought-provoking."

There are light-hearted, fun elements to the show as well. The piece is a perfect vehicle for displaying Miller's exceptional talent for both writing and acting. As always, he displays an impressive range of emotion, and his performance is well calibrated by the direction of Ken Webster. Miller uses the entire stage, performing each segment with movement and pacing appropriate to the particular subject matter. Sometimes the ups an downs are abrupt, and sometimes they are smooth. But this is a perfect choice for Miller's work and his energy as a performer, and as a whole it is very effective.

This is the Austin premiere of "The Evidence of Silence Broken", and in the program Miller thanks Hyde Park for having the bravery to produce such a unique work. Perhaps that is so, but we think that Hyde Park is also wise and insightful for providing the Austin theatre community with an opportunity to experience such a fine piece of performance art.

The show runs for the next three weeks on Th/Fr/Sa, starting tonight, 9/8 & continuing through Saturday, 9/24. Call 479-PLAY (7529) for reservations.

*Photo by Bret Brookshire, (c) 2005.