Little Voice dreams of filling mom’s big shoes
Gemma Barnard says mother Lesley has been her inspiration in the theatre and arts
If imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery, then award-winning actress and director , Lesley Barnard should know from her daughter Gemma Barnard’s decision to follow in her footsteps that she is greatly admired.
Gemma, a first-year BA live performance student at AFDA, said she was inspired by her mother to follow a career in the performing arts. She said her mother’s passion for the theatre and arts had rubbed off on her and influenced her decision.
“From as far back as I can remember, my mother used to take me to rehearsals and I knew from then on that I wanted to do acting.“I got my first stage performance in 2006, when I was six, taking on the role of the monkey in the pantomime Aladdin.”
And now, for more than six weeks, mother and daughter, Leslie and Gemma Barnard along with other dedicated cast and production team members, have been working tirelessly to prepare for the opening of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice under the Pemads banner at the Little Theatre on Wednesday.
The pair have worked on several other productions, including The Merchant of Venice and Annie. The play, written by British playwright Jim Carter, has been staged in other countries, but this will be the first time it is performed in SA.The play is set in a Northern English town in the late 1980s. It became a stage favourite around the world and was also adapted for the big screen in 1998 as Little Voice, starring Jane Horrocks in the title role, and Brenda Blethyn as Mari, Michael Caine as Ray Say, Jim Broadbent as Mr Boo and Ewan McGregor as Billy.
The play is about 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, and when Ray Say hears Little Voice sing, he believes she’s his ticket to the big time. But Little Voice just wants a normal life and to be loved ... Lesley said she had always known she wanted to do Little Voice because of her love for British comedy. “I have been planning to do this for so long. Ultimately, when I decided to do it, I already knew who I wanted to cast for the roles.”
She said she had full confidence in her cast and everyone was excited about the project.
Theatre veteran Yolanda Farrow plays Mari, with Gareth Baine as Ray Say and Bennie Gerber as Mr Boo, both also very experienced on stage.The cast also features the talents of Tim Collier as Billy and Jamie-lee Reynolds as Sadie, with Mark Farrow in a small cameo and as master set-builder.
Gemma was chosen to play Little Voice because of her diminutive size and angelic voice, Lesley said – a role her daughter describes as a “huge responsibility and an honour”.
She said though she had worked with her mother Lesley on productions prior to Little Voice, this was the first time she was being directed by her. “At rehearsals, my mom becomes Lesley, the strict director, and at home she is my mom.“The experience has been an eye-opening one and I am glad I can could be part of a production that is so close to my mom’s heart. Working together has brought us closer,” Gemma said.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice runs at the Pemads Little Theatre nightly at 7.30pm from August 15 to 25. There is no show on Monday August 20 and there is a matinee on Sunday August 19 at 2.30pm (no evening performance). Tickets are R80 at Computicket.
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