The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice - Jim Cartwright

My better half Jane had obtained two tickets for the local Amateur Dramatic production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice written by Jim Cartwright.

I remembered seeing the Film version with Michael Caine.

Ticket prices are £7, a real bargain in this day and age when even Pubs can charge £10 for a music evening.

So off we went to the Grange Hall in the centre of the Village. The Radcliffe on Trent Dramatic Society are a very good , could say professional unit.

Front of House staff are always smartly dressed and Professional in their welcome. The price of the Ticket includes a drink (tea, coffee or squash) and biscuits for the interval. They also run a Bar, open on arrival and an ordering system for the interval.

They are often sold out so get your tickets early. You are given a free program, again wonderfully presented.
The hall is always a buss of chatter until curtain up.

Sound and lighting is always top notch, by Clive/Lynn Holland and Susan jones and Terry Hall.

I would like to say the Sets are always of a very high standard and this production was even better.

The part of Ray Say was played by David Darby, who often plays the lead man, and in this case even extended his performance above his usual high portrayal.

Mari (Little Voice’s mum) was played by Sarah Taylor, and what a superb performance she made of it. A very erotic sight is the revealing costumes, and superb handling of the various moods experienced by a “Lady” exiting her best years and in search of a man.

We now come to Ailsa Pearce, who played LITTLE VOICE, a young lady who had lost her father and spent all her time listening to a collection of records he had left to her.
She is discovered by Ray to be a superb mimic singer of all the female recording stars, and he pursues her to sign up for a go on the stage.

Prior to the performance I thought we would be treated to Taped Singing and miming, as who could perform so many different singing styles.

Well the answer to that is AILSA PEARCE, in one scene she is on stage and has a melody of about 10 songs, she was Better than superb Better than excellent.
As she turned for each song, you could tell by the Little Smile, or the dropped should or the clasped hand, she had really studied the character and had taken on the person.
The songs were brilliant, Ranging from Edith Piaf, sung in French, to Monroe’s Happy Birthday Mr President , I closed my eyes and each time the Original could have been on Stage singing.

There were great supporting roles from Annette Ayres (Sadie), Tom Spencer (Billy)and Stan Harbidge as the club owner Mr Boo.

Well RADCLIFFE on TRENT DRAMA how are you going to top this one, I await with anticipation.

Thank you for a Great Friday Night out.