Part musical, part kitchen sink drama and part
comedy The Rise and Fall of Little Voice tells the tale of a young woman known
to all as LV who seeks escape from her somewhat unstable mother through her
dead dad’s record collection. Alone in her room she learns to mimic some of the
stars she’s listening to and when one her mum’s boyfriends, who just so happens
to be a local talent agent (handy that eh?), overhears her singing he spots her
potential...and his own way to the big time.
If you’ve seen the film version starring Jane
Horrocks (the play it was based on was originally written for her too) you’ll
know how things work out, you’ll also know that the lead role is one heck of a
challenge for an actress.
Happily, with a decade’s experience under her belt,
this production’s Little Voice, Nancy Sullivan, has both the skills and
experience (I’m guessing this is a killer on the old vocal chords) to pull it off
remarkably well. Her Piaf was particularly strong (you’ve got to love a bit of
Piaf) and the contrast between the different voices coupled with the speed at
which she switched from one to the other was pretty dazzling.
The rest of the cast is every bit as strong. Despite
having few lines Joanna Brooks got most of the laughs as Sadie, trust me you’ll
never listen to the Jackson 5 in the same way again.
Genuinely hilarious.
Gloriously
OTT Vicky Entwistle dominates the whole thing, swigging and swearing her way
through the entire performance, just as her character Mari (LV’s mum) rules her
daughter’s life, Chris Gascoyne is delightfully greasy as her boyfriend and
LV’s ‘agent’ Ray Say.
Add Brendan Charleson as the archetypal cheesy club MC Mr
Boo and Tendayi Jembere who’s touchingly gentle as LV’s love interest Billy and
you’ve got a cast that really brings out the highs and lows in the script. Even
the set’s a gem, a cut away house that revolves and lets the audience see what’s
going on in every room, it’s suitably grim, grimy and claustrophobic. There’s an
impressive bit of pyrotechnics in Act II as well that’ll have you checking out
the fire exits!
Ultimately great theatre’s meant to stir up the
emotions and the closing scenes do just that with more than one audience member nearby visibly shedding a tear or two during Sullivan’s moving closing solo. There’s
no doubt about it, this particular Little Voice has a lot going for it. Highly
recommended.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is on at The REP
until Saturday May 30th. Tickets here!
P.S. All photos courtesy of Keith Pattison
