←Recommendations of Another Kind of Silence

If what you are looking for is a simple, traditional, feel-good play that answers every question, then Another Kind of Silence by L M Feldman may not be for you. This is a bridge between worlds hearing and non-hearing, between myth and reality, between desire and love, between people. Innovative both dramatically and theatrically, the complex script manifests the difficulties of communications and human connection. One imagines a dance, zooming in and out, mirroring the harmonies and discords, the mysterious navigation of human relations. This is surely a rewarding challenge for creative teams.

What a beautifully romantic tale filled with such complex and fantastic characters. Put this show on it's feet!

AKOS reads more like an orchestrated score. Its language is both poetic and choreographic. The pairing of CHORUS as CHARACTER’s doppelgänger ties the linguistics to human interiority, backdropped by the epic landscape of Athens and the myth/reinterpretation of Eurydice. The play plunges into the depth and fatalism of romance. Each line (conversational/expositional) is lyrical, metaphorical, psychologically intense, physically dynamic. Its stylized form extends beyond the page, and the detailed production notes suggest a process-oriented theatre of disability and queerness, eliciting audience responses from multiple dimensions. I really hope to see it in development and on stage!

Stunningly beautiful language. “Another Kind of Silence” lays bare the souls of these complex characters. Use of Greek chorus in a contemporary way is brilliant.

A powerful and beautifully written look at the experience of connection and the emotions that come from those relationships. Intoxicating and well done!

This is a beautiful play full of taut feelings and deep sensuality. I was drawn in by the beautiful language, the complex character dynamics, and the unpacking of the myth of Eurydice and Orpheus (whose story is it really?) through a queer lens. The play also stands out as exemplary in utilizing ASL as a primary language of the script, going beyond an idea of "interpretation" into a deeper interconnectedness that was thrilling to read. I recommend giving it a read and championing it to your local theatre communities.

The standout at Denver Center's New Play Summit this year. It's language is jawdropping gorgeous and the relationships are some of the most delicate and sophisticated I've seen on stage in a while. The overall form, that pulls from Greek conventions and myth to invoke a chorus and an Orpheus/Eurydice parallel, is so innovative and brilliant. The play reaches beyond mere thought or emotion to a spiritual plane that made me think about the limits of language and how much weight and meaning a silence can hold. It's so achingly beautiful; I was holding my breath at the end.

This play is sexy and sad and makes you feel things harddd. Was a pleasure reading it at Sewanee and think the writing is just so raw and passionate, hope to see it produced! Love that L is boldly writing challenging, visceral new plays American audiences haven't seen.

It was a pleasure to spend time with this play during the 2017 Sewanee Writers' Conference. L's approach to language, and her willingness to push the boundaries of how both language and relationships are performed was not only refreshing but needed. I found myself wound around the characters of this world in a way that made my heart ache. I love how L captured the honesty of how we occupy the world in so many different ways, and Chap and Evan's budding relationship is electric. L as a playwright is gracious, and this play is wonderful. Stage it, please!

It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Lauren Feldman and their play ANOTHER KIND OF SILENCE as a finalist for our 2016 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one of 54 finalists out of more than 1,450 submissions, the strength of its writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process. Our readers especially appreciated the unflinchingly lyrical language, both in English and ASL.