The Port Elizabeth drama society, Pemads, is presenting The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, directed by award winning actress and director Lesley Barnard from Wednesday August 15 to Saturday August 25.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice stars an award winning, multi-talented cast in Yolande Farrow as Mari Hoff and Gemma Barnard as Little Voice, Gareth Bain as Ray Say and Bennie Gerber as Mr Boo.
The cast also features the now well-known talents of Tim Collier as Billy and Jamie-lee Reynolds as Sadie and Mark Farrow (in a small cameo and as master set-builder).
The play was written by English dramatist Jim Cartwright who has his own roots in a Northern English town, which is where the play is set in the late 1980s.
It opened in 1992, directed by Sam Mendes, with a premiere at The Royal National Theatre with Jane Horrocks as Little Voice and in 1993 won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy. It enjoyed a successful revival in 2009 with Diane Vickers (X-Factor UK) taking over as LV.
Big screen version
It was adapted for the big screen in 1998, then just called “Little Voice” and starred Jane Horrocks as LV, Brenda Blethyn as Mari Hoff ( nominated for an Academy Award as Best supporting Actress for the role), Michael Caine as Ray Say, Jim Broadbent as Mr Boo and Ewan McGregor as Billy.
It is best not to compare the stage play and the film, as Jim Cartwright did not write the screenplay for the film.
The play is more equally balanced as a genuine ensemble piece with some darker moments than the film portrayed. It works better in its original stage version, without the “gloss” of Hollywood, the play is true to the characters and the playwright’s Northern roots.The story of Little Voice
The play tells the story of a shy, reclusive girl named Little Voice and her larger than life, out of control mother Mari.
Desperately missing her dead father, Little Voice spends her time locked in her bedroom listening to his old record collection and perfecting astonishing impersonations of famous divas including Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Dusty Springfield.
When Mari starts dating small-time club agent Ray Say, she thinks he's her last chance for a better life. When Ray Say hears Little Voice sing, he thinks she's his ticket to the big time. Little Voice just wants a normal life and to be loved. Not everyone is going to get what they want!
This play is part fairytale, you want LV to be rescued by Billy, part Greek tragedy in the relationship between LV and Mari but also a triumph as LV finds her own voice!
Show times
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice runs at the Pemads Little Theatre from August 15 to 25 with curtain up 7.30pm each night.There will be no show on Monday 20 August. There will be a matinee performance on 19 August at 2.30pm.
Booking is at Computicket.