The Rise and Fall of Little Voice should prove to be a big hit

Rebecca Minto’s skeletal set reflects what little is left of the motherdaughter relationship

In complete contrast to the razzmatazz of Chicago, Jim Cartwright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice has joined the repertoire at Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Yes, there are comparisons – we get the light show and musical soliloquy finale, and it is a harrowing, yet extremely comedic, road to this point.

But it is also a tale of a fractious kinship. Mari Hoff is not the ideal parent model – she is blousy, loud-mouthed and rarely encounters sobriety. LV is reclusive, dealing with her beloved father’s death by playing all his old records and imitating the likes of Judy Garland and Shirley Bassey to great effect.

Ray Say, an aspiring theatrical agent (at least in his own mind), is one of her mother’s “visitors” and, on hearing LV’s renditions, sees his “golden ticket” dangling before him.

Rebecca Minto’s skeletal set reflects what little is left of the mother-daughter relationship and one hopes it has been strengthened to cope with mum’s antics – this is Deirdre Davis as you have never seen her before! She makes staggering a new artform and, coupled with Mari’s doubtful fashion sense and disobedient mop of hair, it takes her a million miles away from her former self as Councillor Donachie in River City. Bravo!

At the other end of the scale, Laura Costello is making her professional debut – this is certainly not apparent, as she possesses the role of Little Voice with a powerful display. Slight in stature, mighty in voice – reminiscent of a certain Jane Horrocks, for whom the play was created.

Carl Patrick completes a fine transition from the legal profession (Billy Flynn in Chicago) to the seedy side of club entertainment as Ray Say, with Irene-Myrtle Forrester delightfully underplaying the role of Mari’s simple friend, Sadie.

Isaac Stanmore, another newcomer to Pitlochry, is LV’s love interest as the young phone engineer and aspiring lighting designer with Alan Steele completing director Gemma Fairlie’s fine team as his boss. Little Voice continues on various dates until October 13.