Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice was an instant hit when it premiered at The National Theatre in 1992, launching the career of Jane Horrocks, who would go on to star in the film version six years later. The play has enjoyed plenty of revivals, and this latest production, directed by Bronagh Lagan, is currently touring the UK.
Set in Scarborough, this is a Northern comedy with a smidgen of tragedy thrown in. Living in a run-down terraced house with dodgy electrics, Little Voice (or LV as she is called) is shy to the point of being agoraphobic, preferring to spend her time locked in her bedroom with a hoard of classic records left to her by her father.
While LV struggles with normal conversation, she has the ability to imitate the voices of the stars she listens to on her precious records. From Shirley Bassey to Julie Andrews and Lulu, LV transforms from quiet and shy, to confident songbird
LV’s mother is the polar opposite, Mari is loud and brash, constantly talking down her late husband and his only daughter. Mari’s best friend Sadie is also frequently in the firing line, despite being the only true friend that Mari has. Mari’s latest man, Ray Say, is in showbusiness, and when he hears LV sing, he immediately sees pound signs.
It’s worth remembering that The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a play rather than a musical, so even though the main character is a singer, that element comes second to the drama being played out amongst these vividly real Northern characters.
The first act takes a little while to get going, setting up the relationships and plot lines that are essential to the more impactful second act. It’s after the interval we hear LV sing properly for the first time, with a big showstopping set that rewards the audience for their patience so far.
Previous productions have found it tricky to the cast the role of LV, the play was originally written especially for Jane Horrocks talent. But this The Rise and Fall of Little Voice may have struck gold with Christina Bianco, who is a singing impressionist by trade. Bianco handles well the shy moments, and Northern accent, but really floors the audience with those big and complex vocal numbers.
Shobna Gulati takes on the role of Mari, it’s a character that’s very difficult to like, even in her weakest moments. Gulati revels in playing this pseudo-villain, bringing the perfect balance of comedy and depravity. There’s also a good chemistry between Gulati and Fiona Mulvaney who plays Sadie, a comic foil that garners equal amounts of laughter and sympathy from the audience. The jokes at the expense of Sadie do expose the plays age, but do not detract from the joy Mulvaney brings to the character.
Ian Kelsey is the suave Ray Say and comes with a hint of Del Boy to him in his confident swagger. Akshay Gulati is charming as LV’s equally shy love interest, although the play never really delves deep enough into the relationship for it to feel complete.
Sara Perks impressive set sees most of the action taking place in the Hoff’s home, with an occasional visit to Mr Boo’s club, but it never feels like there’s too little happening on stage .
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice has become a perennial favourite, and thanks to Bronagh Lagan’s smart direction and an impressive cast led by Christina Bianco, audiences will be crying out for more of the quiet girl with a big talent.
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The Rise and Fall of Little Voice Tour details can be found here
