"Silence! The Musical" is not a show for the faint of heart.
The show at Civic Theatres Theatre514 through Oct. 31 is crude, outrageous and hilarious.
Termed an "unauthorized parody" of "The Silence of the Lambs," "Silence!" recreates the horror thriller with songs and dances that are outlandishly vulgar send ups of Broadway show tunes.
This laugh-out-loud satire is X-rated, with several songs that have titles that are inspired by some of the most obscene and memorable lines of dialogue from the 1991 Academy Award-winning film.
What makes "Silence!" most fun is how faithful it is to its original source, and will be most appreciated by fans of the movie, although those who have not seen the film still can enjoy the subversive comedy on the minimalistic stage.
Deena Linn takes on the Jodie Foster role of rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling who is assigned to interview brilliant but insane cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Linns deadpan delivery as Foster is as funny as her over-the-top exaggeration of Fosters slight lisp and husky voice as she repeatedly introduces herself as "Clarice Shtarling."
Mike Daniels is obviously having a blast playing one of the most famous and repellent murders in movie history. He also gets to warble the most profane song in the show, an outrageous ballad about a part of Starlings anatomy.
Daniels takes his cues from Anthony Hopkins performance of Lector and successfully conveys as sense of charismatic creepiness.
Jason Roth also turns in a subversively funny performance as the over-the-top serial killer Buffalo Bill. Clad in a blond fright wig, Roth humorously sings about his search for overweight victims to skin is "Are You About a Size 14'" and in another unprintable song, memorably recreates the "tuck scene from the film.
One of the highlights is "Quid Pro Quo" an amusingly unlikely tango between Starling and Lector complete with glass wall between them.
Audrey Lasicki makes the most of her dual roles as Buffalo Bills resourceful victim Catherine and her iron-willed mother Senator Martin.
Playing one of Clarices F.B.I. colleagues, Juanita Renay brings glitz and sass to a jazzy song about finally doing something useful.
Todd Rizzuto apes Lins outrageous lisp in a funny sequence as the ghost of Starlings father lamenting how lonely it is being dead.
They and the rest of the ensemble “ Mason McGowan, Nina Elias Ace, Ryan Donchez, Kate Pistone and Jason Sizemore - play various roles including FBI agents, work colleagues, guards, but are most inspired when they hilariously come together as the dancing and singing chorus dressed as lambs with floppy ears.
Director William Sanders keeps the 90-minute show tight and biting.
"Silence!" is shameless fun and you will never be able to watch "Silence of the Lambs" the same way again.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, 26, 28 and 31; and 7:30 and 11 p.m. Oct. 30 at Theatre514, 514 N. 19th St., Allentown.
Proof of vaccination is required and masks must be worn.
Tickets are $29 for adults and $27 for seniors, students and military.
For tickets go to civictheatre.com, or call 610-433-8903.