The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

The Lace Market pulls off an incredible feat with their latest production. Director Martin Berry perfectly balances the comedy and tragedy of Jim Cartwright's script and a brilliant cast is led by the astonishing performance of local A-Level student Lauren McGee.

LV is a reclusive girl in a Northern Town, who rarely speaks and never goes out. Mourning the death of her father, she endlessly listens to his old record collection of the great divas, such as Shirley Bassey and Judy Garland. Mari, her mother, on the other hand, is a washed-up good time girl, eeking out the last vestiges of her attractiveness with tiny skirts and drunken revelry and hoping to bag a man before her looks finally desert her. Selfish and self-obsessed, she is jealous of LV's love for her father. She is vicious in expressing her disappointment in LV, bullying her into retreating further into the comforts of her music.

LV's meekness hides an incredible talent, one unappreciated by her mother; she is able to perform amazing impersonations of the great singers. At the drop of a hat she burst into powerful renditions of their songs, temporarily adopting their feisty characters and self confidence. Unfortunately, LV is overheard by Ray Say, a small-time music promoter and a chancer on the make. He sees LV as his ticket to the big time and he isn't going to let her feelings get in his way. Ray makes her perform at a rough local club, but will she be discovered and escape her humble origins or will she crack under the strain?

Cartwright's script heartbreakingly portrays the tragic waste of talent caused by poverty of opportunity, hopelessness and a lack of self belief. Each character has untapped potential and would be so much more if they had been born with the proverbial silver spoon. The dialogue is full of evocative invented words and phrases, the characters much more than cardboard cut-out Northern stereotypes.

LV is a challenging role and McGee rises to it superbly. In LV's quiet moods she acts mainly with her eyes and subtle changes of expression before bursting into a powerful rendition of Bassey or a sassy quip by Marilyn Monroe, then dropping into a soft spoken Northern accent. It's a real pleasure to watch such a talented young performer. Kareena Sims as her mother gives an excellent performance as her mother, screeching gratingly, staggering gracelessly in too-high heels and veering effortlessly from anger to self pity. With faultless support from the rest of the cast, a detailed set and a live band on stage, this amateur production rivals professional companies and is the best offering from the Lace Market for some time.


The Rise and Fall of Little Voice plays at the Lace Market Theatre until Saturday 11 February 2012

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