BWW Reviews: THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE, Birmingham Rep Theatre, May 20 2015

Jim Cartwright's play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice opened to great acclaim at the National Theatre in 1992 before transferring into the West End. Cartwright had written the role of LV for Jane Horrocks who created the character in this production before reprising LV in the 1998 film adaptation. Since, the show has had a couple of revivals in the UK and now Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company & West Yorkshire Playhouse present this brand new production.

Before the show even begins, we are greeted by Colin Richmond's phenomenal set design. An entire steel-structured house dominates the playing space and operates on a revolve. It is very exposing for the performances and very detailed direction-wise (by James Brining) as you can simultaneously witness reactions between characters even when they are not in the same scene technically. The wasteland is reflected in a semi circle upstage of the house along with a slash curtain which injects a certain glamour into a less than alluring physical setting. The lighting design by Philip Gladwell is excellent, demonstrating naturalistic tones along with a slightly more brash state for the dingy club scenes. David Shrubsole's musical composition is supremely well manufactured with a mix of classic songs featuring the likes of Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holliday and Marilyn Monroe which are combined with news stories of the era. The intensive work he has undertaken with Nancy Sullivan as LV is also remarkable.

Sullivan is a huge talent and she allows us to see the diverse nature of her expertise when impersonating some of the greats. Alongside this, she plays the timid side of LV to perfection. She perhaps doesn't have a great deal of dialogue early on but she makes up for this with her characterisation. She is captivating even when sitting still because as an audience member, you are able to see her thought process. Sullivan is radiant when singing 'This Is My Life' as the closing ballad. Dominating the text is Mari, LV's loud-mouth of a mother, played by Vicky Entwistle. She has the bulk of the spoken word, beginning with a heightened level of intensity and then having to maintain it - which she did. Chris Gascoyne as Ray Say and Tendayi Jembere as Billy provide great support to the female protagonists whilst light entertainment comes in the form of Sadie played by Joanna Brookes and club owner Mr Boo (Brendan Charleson).

A powerful piece of writing delivered by top class actors.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice plays at the Birmingham Rep until 30 May before playing at West Yorkshire Playhouse between 5 June and 4 July 2015.

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