The Sound of Silence

Cadence Theatre Company’s Small Mouth Sounds Invites Audiences to Connect

Bess Wohl’s Small Mouth Sounds begins with the sound of a torrential rainstorm. There are six chairs on stage in a row, the gathering spot for Rodney, Ned, Jan, Alicia, Joan, and Judy. They have arrived to attend a silent retreat, to wrestle with their pasts, to find themselves again. They meet one another, exchange pleasantries, hear from their instructor. Then the struggle for silence begins.

For director Laine Satterfield, the fact that much of the play takes place without a single word being uttered presented an exciting challenge. “I was drawn to this play from the moment I read the character descriptions,” she said. “Each one of them has baggage or trauma that they are walking into the room with, and we need to make that as specific and alive as possible. The actors have to be totally present with one another at every moment.”

Although it was written only three years ago, the play seems even more relevant today. It’s hard not to read a newspaper or magazine without seeing an article asking how we can all detach from our computers and phones and become more present. “To some extent, I think we are all searching for meaning in our lives and a way to heal from the past,” said Satterfield. “The more we move into the technological world, the less present we are with one another. The idea of just being in a room with others, experiencing moments of silence and self-reflection, seems like a much-needed opportunity.”

For the actors, the play provides an opportunity for deep engagement, perfect for the intimate setting of the Theatre Gym. The characters’ desires and emotions are often conveyed through subtle facial expressions or small physical movements rather than through dialogue — ways of communicating that we might not always pay attention to in our daily interactions but that are always there. In a sense, the play invites the audience to become the seventh retreat participant — to join the characters in moments of intentional observation and reflection, learning about each character’s past and the way forward. 

To complement this shared journey, Cadence and Virginia Rep will offer a series of free 30-minute wellness workshops after select Thursday and Sunday performances featuring some of Richmond’s top experts on mindfulness, yoga, and meditation, curated by Satterfield. “I hope that audiences will come away from the show with a sense of increased mindfulness and a feeling of connection,” she said. “I especially hope that audiences will start to think about what they might change in order to be more present and alive in their everyday lives.” 

In an interview with BroadwayWorld, Bess Wohl described Small Mouth Sounds as a play about “the difficulty and joy of human connection, the search for meaning or ‘enlightenment,’ and the ways in which we do or do not change.” When the six participants arrive at the retreat, the instructor welcomes them with these words: “Think of this retreat as a vacation from your habits. Your routines. Yourself. It is the best kind. Of vacation. Because after this. You don’t ever have to go back. To who you were.” Will the characters return to who they were once the play ends? Will you?

Small Mouth Sounds, a co-production of Cadence Theatre Company and Virginia Repertory Theatre, runs March 7 through March 29, with previews March 5 and 6. The production is part of the Acts of Faith Festival, a vibrant and inclusive community-wide collaboration involving RVA’s theatres and faith communities. Small Mouth Sounds contains brief nudity, adult content, and the burning of incense and herbal cigarettes. Recommended for patrons 18+ (ID required). Patrons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For tickets and more information, go to www.cadencetheatre.org or call (804) 282-2620.