PORTSMOUTH – Imagine stepping back to a time when films spoke without words — no color, no dialogue, just the expressive power of actors, the drama of live music, and the storytelling of title cards.
 
The Players’ Ring Theatre, in collaboration with Glass Dove Productions, is taking a bold step in bringing “The Man Who Laughs” to its stage in a world premiere play beginning Oct. 17. 
 
Adapted from the book by Victor Hugo, with inspiration from the 1928 homonymous film directed by Paul Leni, the idea came from Emily Karel, a Seacoast-based actor and producer.

“When someone like Emily Karel comes to you and says, ‘I want to turn a silent, synchronized expressionist film from the 1920s — itself inspired by a late-1800s French horror romance — into a stage experience,’ you can’t help but blink and go: wait… what?” said the Ring’s Executive Director Margherita Giacobbi.

“But this is exactly the kind of daring dream The Players’ Ring exists for. Ideas so profoundly original they outrun imagination — the kind you can only meet with a leap of faith,” she added. 

There was no script to read in the Ring’s usual submission process — just a concept. A concept so powerful and inventive that it begged them to trust, to experiment, and to invite its audience to leap with them.

Set during the shadowy reign of Queen Anne, this gothic horror-romance follows Gwynplaine (played byWayne Asbury), the most famous clown in England. His acrobatic talents and broad, omnipresent grin delight peasants and noblemen alike. 

But this clown can never remove his makeup. His crowd-pleasing grin is a curse, carved into his face when he was a child at the behest of a cruel, vindictive king. When a beautiful duchess attends his show, a secret from Gwynplaine’s past is revealed, a secret that threatens to destroy everything he has built, and everyone he holds dear.

Karel said the production “seems like a tangled web.”
 
“Actually, the idea to stage a silent film live was one I’d been flirting with for years,” she said. “Then in 2023, Wayne (Asbury) and I were looking for a film to watch, and we came across Leni’s 1928 adaptation of ‘The Man Who Laughs’. It was very unique in that the film didn’t rely too much on title cards.” 
 
“About halfway through the film, we turned to each other and said, ‘This could be it.’ We could adapt this for the stage. We had no way of knowing then just how much more relevant a story about classism, political and social ambition, art, authoritarianism, and the deep desire for human connection, would become.” 
 
The script is entirely devised by the cast which includes – in addition to Wayne Asbury and Emily Karel – Ben Bagley, Kevin Baringer and Leslie Pasternack. 
 
“All of our cast members have wonderful and unique ways of embodying their characters and moving through the story,” Karel said. “And without any spoken dialogue, facial expression and physicality are vitally important.” 
With no spoken dialogue, the play depends heavily on the musical component. Bring in Jonny Peiffer as sound designer.

Peiffer has been an active member of the Seacoast music community for more than 20 years. He is a pianist, drummer, composer/arranger, bandleader, and producer, and has led many musical, theatrical, and multidisciplinary projects in the area, including his own band Sojoy. He also teaches at Portsmouth Music and Art Center and is the Music Director for South Church in Portsmouth.

“I'm approaching this project essentially the same way I would approach any other project, developing themes and sound palettes for each character, mood, and/or scene in the show,” Peiffer said. 

“There is a slight difference here in that there is no dialogue, at least not spoken, so that potentially increases the attention and importance of sound and music.”

Peiffer said the challenge in this case is to avoid the potential of sound and music overpowering the subtleties of the action on stage. 

“One way I am countering that potentiality is by employing minimalist musical techniques, which includes the use of repetition that can often help the music to become part of the wallpaper,” he explained. 
Zhana Morris is the costume designer.
 
“Basically, it needs to have a very limited color palette to evoke the black-and-white feel of the film,” Morris said. “It also needs to be representational rather than extremely literal, because there are only five actors — one of them playing a single character. Costumes must be easy to put on quickly (often in view of the audience) and be instantly recognizable as belonging to a different character.”
 
Time constraints and not knowing fully knowing what characters need costume-wise to be represented have been challenging for Morris.  
 
“Overall, my approach is to just believe in the process and trust that I will be able to counter the limitations with creative spontaneity,” she said. 
 
“Yet, I'm working with a team who says that it's okay that I don't fully know what my design is yet. We've all agreed to work in this collaborative and relatively improvisational style and that comes with a certain amount of trust that your colleague's creativity will be there when it needs to be and that creativity will be supported and shared in unexpected ways. As in life, nothing is black and white but rather, many, many, many, many shades of grey.” 
 
The rest of the creative team includes set designer Quentin Stockwell and lighting designer Tayva Young.
Curious about the process? The first Sunday matinee show (Oct. 19 at 2:30 p.m.) will be followed by an optional talkback with the ensemble.
The Players’ Ring is grateful for the support of its sponsors. Patrons of the Arts: The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation, Tour Restaurant, The Puddle Dock Restaurant, RAKA Creative. Supporters: Business Cents, City of Portsmouth Recreation Department, Dowling HVAC, Port City Makerspace. Media Partners: Portsmouthnh.com and Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. 
 
The Ring’s neighbor, The Puddle Dock restaurant, and its sister restaurant “Tour” on Lafayette Road, are both offering a 10% discount on food to Players’ Ring patrons. Visit their websites to reserve, and present your ticket when you ask for your check.
 
Go & Do
“The Man Who Laughs”
Where: The Players’ Ring Theatre, 105 Marcy Street, Portsmouth NH
               Phone: 603-436-8123
When: Oct. 17 – Nov. 2 Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., with the exception of Friday, Oct. 31, when the show will run at 9:00 p.m. following the Portsmouth Halloween Parade.
Cost: General Admission: $32; Seniors (65+)/Students/ Veterans/First Responders: $29.
This play is included in the Ring’s subscription packages. Visit www.playersring.org for more information and to purchase tickets.