The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

"The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" by the In Your Face Theatre Seaham (IYFTS) was brought to life at Seaham Town Hall recently, and it was nothing short of a theatrical gem. Director Jon Isbell did an incredible job of bringing this wonderful play to life, assisted with staging by Charlie Younger, a duo of force to be reckoned with.  The play, originally penned by Jim Cartwright, tells the poignant and often humorous story of a young woman with an extraordinary talent for mimicking famous singers, and her struggle for identity and acceptance.

It's always an expectation for IYFTS to deliver real high quality performances and boy did they deliver yet again.

The first thing that struck the audience was the innovative staging. The set design was a work of art, capturing the essence of a small, cluttered northern English home with remarkable authenticity and balancing clutter and disorganisation with the order of Little Voice’s hopes and dreams. The clever use of space and a heightened platform for Little Voice bedroom allowed the audience to feel intimately connected to the characters and their environment.

The performances were spectacular. The cast of IYFTS demonstrated their profound understanding of the characters and brought them to life with sincerity and passion.  Jade Carney portraying Little Voice delivered a stunning performance, capturing the delicate balance between vulnerability and strength. Her vocal impersonations of iconic singers were breathtakingly accurate and emotionally stirring, as well as beautiful to hear. She was able to portray Little Voice’s vulnerability and desire to be seen, really seen by her mother Mari.  The iconic portrayal of Mari was by Fiona Donald and quite frankly, she blew me away.  Stunning performance with real depth and a masterpiece of delivery, especially her soliloquy towards the end of the play.  She literally got right into the depths of Mari’s  persona, the loud brash exterior covering a vulnerable woman, blind to her own child’s needs.  Sadie was played with a beautiful vulnerability by Irene Smith whose expressions and small mannerisms brought Sadie’s comic humour to life, but also reflecting that only maternal caring influence in Little Voice’s life.  Even her small gestures of taking Little Voice her toast, putting on a coat and visiting her in her room were done with precision and the crisp eating brought the house down!  Ray Say was played by Derek Crooks to perfection, with Derek finding just the right balance between the sleazy club promoter, and exploiter of Little Voice’s talent.  His charisma was brilliant, word perfect, and his section where he looses it with Mari in Act 2 was a work of art.  So well delivered and natural sounding, not recited one bit.  Brilliant Derek.  Karl Smith played the part of Billy, the shy young man who really makes Little Voice feel heard, more so than during her uncomfortable stint club singing.  Karl captured the innocent vulnerability of Billy, which then brings out the best in Little Voice.  Ian Brewis played Mr Boo the charismatic, sleazy club owner who in league with Ray Say conspires to exploit poor Little Voice.  Incredible performances.

It's not often this happens but I need to mention the sound and light from PEast Durham Audio (Duncan Baxter) and POSS Productions (Paul Oliver).  The dream team of sound and light masterfully executed the quite difficult technical requirements of this play, which of course develops the emotional impact of key scenes. The transitions between Little Voice's performances and the harsh reality of her home life were accentuated by the clever use of sound, creating a distinct contrast that heightened the dramatic effect. The lighting effects were equally impressive, with strategic use of shadows, highlights, pyrotechnics to focus attention and evoke emotions. Whether it was the soft glow of a solitary bulb or the dramatic spotlight during a performance, the lighting added layers of meaning to the narrative.  Of course also creating fire on stage with light is always going to be incredibly difficult but these two delivered!

"The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" at Seaham Town Hall was a triumph of theatrical artistry.  Well done to all concerned. The combination of brilliant staging, outstanding acting, and clever sound and light effects made for an unforgettable experience. The IYFTS teams, both on and off stage should be commended for their dedication and skill in bringing this poignant story to life. This production stands as a testament to the power of theatre to move, entertain, and inspire audiences.  The standing ovation spoke for itself!

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.