Maria buffini biography

Eleventh century English history isn't the most obvious source material for a comedy, but Moira Buffini has mined it quite successfully in her generally delightful play Silence. The title character is Silence of Cumbria, a 14-year-old Viking lord who has been ordered by Ethelred, the King of England, to marry the French noblewoman Ymma of Normandy. Ymma is at least twice Silence's age and objects fairly strenuously to the match, which she views as a punishment and which has forced her to leave her beloved homeland for the colder, damper, and less "civilized" England.

Nevertheless, the marriage takes place, overseen by Roger, the earnest young priest who has been given the task of converting Silence to Christianity. Also present are Agnes, Ymma's dutiful but high-spirited maid, and Eadric Longshaft, one of Ethelred's chief warriors, who believes he has seen a vision of the Virgin Mary in Ymma's presence.

Harsh words pass between Ymma and Ethelred, with two results. First, Ymma, believing that her disrespect might cost her her life, decides to flee immed

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