I HAVE enjoyed following writer/actor Mike Venables performances over the past few years and have seen him grow theatrically both in his writing and performance. Last night at the premiere of his new work ‘Beethoven: Edge of Silence’ I felt he achieved a new maturity.
As in his past shows this is a one actor performance where Venables plays all the roles including a guide/narrator to the action. The Edge of Silence is a new take on life and times of one of the worlds greatest composers Ludwig van Beethoven. Our guide is the likable Rafe Blackthorne who immediately engages by breaking down the fourth wall between us with his opening banter and teasers on ‘what’s-to-come.’
Once hooked Blackthorne explains to us that we are going to explore two of the great mysteries and struggles at the heart of Beethoven’s life. The first is the identity of the woman he addressed as his “Immortal Beloved” and the second being how he dealt with his descent into deafness.
Blackthorne tells us that discovered among Ludwig van Beethoven’s papers after his death was a passionate unsent letter which has fascinated historians for nearly two centuries. The play follows Beethoven’s relationships with several real women from his life as it attempts to and finally uncovers the identity of the woman, he loved most deeply but could never truly be with.
In addition to Beethoven, Venables jumps into the skins of female protagonists Josephine Brunsvik, Giulietta Guiccardi and Therese Malfatti – all have different accents and different stories to tell. He plays other characters too including Mozart. Beethoven’s bossy father, a villainous Count and Anna, a devoted maid.
Running alongside the love interest is Beethoven’s battle with increasing deafness. Faced with the devastating prospect of losing the very sense upon which his career depended, he comes back from the brink by finding the determination to continue creating some of the greatest music ever written.
Venables exudes tremendous energy and his ability to switch roles with a gesture or a laugh is a joy to watch. He is a unique talent indeed.
Of course, a show about Beethoven wouldn’t be complete without the music and Venables has not one but two talented pianists helping him tell the journey – the hugely talented Michelle Lord and her twelve year old protégé student Noelle Yuen who gave us the complete Moonlight Sonata as a bonus walkdown.
Beethoven: Edge of Silence will be back at the MAC plus touring soon and trust me, it’s a show well worth making the effort to watch out for.
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