Little Voice in Bangkok
British Playhouse Theatre Brings London's West End to Bangkok
The last time the Singapore-based British Theatre Playhouse was in Bangkok they played the Oriental Hotel, appropriately enough, with Noel Coward’s Private Lives. They returned to Bangkok in January to present a gritty tragic-comedy tale of Little Voice.
Little Voice or ‘LV’ is a reclusive, shy girl who spends much of her time in the bedroom of her council house in a north of England town.
Alone and lonely LV finds solace in playing records of her favourite stars and singing along with them. The comfort she gains is also in the memory of her dead father to whom she was close and who left her his prized vinyl long player record collection.
But LV does more than just sing along; she imitates her favourite chanteuse’s in their own voices; Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Edith Piaf and even Britain’s Gracie Fields trills from LV’s shy core.
Marie, LV's overbearing, loud mouthed mother is under the illusion that her sex-appeal (of which none is apparent) will snare a man. Here enters curiously charming yet sleazy small-time theatrical agent Ray Say. While Marie and Ray are romping on the settee downstairs Little Voice starts singing in her bedroom. Ray hearing her incredible talent is convinced that he can make her a star.
Ray persuades LV to sing at the local night club ‘Flamingos’. Marie is enthusiastic but LV is reluctant and her first performance is a disaster. Fleeing the stage she retreats to the comfortable security of her bedroom and her records.
Both Ray and Marie are determined that Little Voice will perform again but fate steps in and after a couple of smash hit performances Little Voice refuses and becomes more reclusive.
The play progresses to a hilarious and poignant climax when LV finds her own unique voice to the strains of Judy Garland’s ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ an eternal anthem of hope for the lonely the and the dispossessed.
The characters are powerfully portrayed by a strong cast of British actors. Little Voice is played by Rachel Wood, Marie by Sandra Duncan, Ray Say by veteran TV and film actor John McAdle who many Britons will remember as Billy Corkhill in the British soap Brookside. James Cartwright plays Billy who eventually encourages LV to be herself. Other parts are played by Michelle Macmanus (Sadie) and John Faulkner as (Mr Loo) the local impresario.
The characterisations, particularly that of John Faulkner as the dismal night club owner and local small-time impresario was so commanding that it brought back many memories of similar wasted nights spent in identical working men’s clubs and night spots in the South Wales of many years ago.
Written by Jim Cartwright and first staged at Britain’s Royal National Theatre The Rise and Fall of Little Voice was such a success that it moved to the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End. It was made into a film staring Brenda Blethyn as Marie, Michael Caine as Ray Say and Jane Horrocks as Little Voice. The flim received a number of Oscar nominations, and the West End play was nominate for six prestigious Laurence Olivier awards. It opened on Broadway in 1995 to critical acclaim.
This production is produced by John and by the British Theatre Playhouse, was first staged in Singapore followed by Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok ending its tour in Colombo. Each of the productions are being sponsored by Hilton Hotels.
