Guelph Little Theatre is ready to open The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, an off-beat comedy and drama on Jan. 28 at its Morris Street Theatre.
Set in working-class England, Little Voice tells the story of LV, a painfully shy girl with a hidden talent.
A hopeless introvert, she sits alone in her room, trapped in the past, listening to her dead father’s records, while her gin-soaked mother chases lost opportunities.
Fuses flare when mom teams up with a sleazy talent scout, pushing LV into the spotlight with magic (and tragic) results.
Director Trevor Smith Diggins calls Little Voice "an edgy Cinderella story from the dark side. It’s a unique mix of comedy, drama, tragedy, and a bit of cabaret, so that’s a lot to squeeze into one show."
He added, "Plus, we have live music, dance, celebrity impersonations, hundreds of sound and light cues, and some surprising special effects."
His biggest challenge was finding a young actress who can sing, dance, act, and also channel such iconic divas as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and Shirley Bassey.
At 18, Akasha Di Tomasso performs the title role. And playing her slatternly mother onstage is Di Tomasso’s off-stage mom, actress Michele DiTomasso.
Rounding out the cast are Steve Robinson, Stephen Young, and Bob Calwell, who play double-duty as actors and nightclub musicians; Robin Jackson, and Shaw Forgeron.
Playwright Jim Cartwright wrote his off-beat script for British actress Jane Horrocks, who also played LV in the 1998 film version with Michael Caine and Brenda Blethyn.
A recent revival of the show in London’s West End won raves from critics – http://www.littlevoicewestend.com.
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice runs for 10 performances at Guelph Little Theatre Feb. 14. The show will be adjudicated on Jan. 30 for entry into the Western Ontario Drama League Festival, to be held in Owen Sound in March.
For tickets and information, call 519-821-0270, or reserve online at http://www.guelphlittletheatre.com.
The show contains mature themes and strong language, and is not recommended for young children.
