# Review: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice - Source: The Mancunion (https://staging.mancunion.com/theatre/review-the-rise-and-fall-of-little-voice) - By: Jay Darcy - Published: 2022-06-07T23:23:40.000Z - Section: Theatre - Topics: The Lowry, lowry theatre, doctors, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctor Who, media city, mediacityuk, Salford Quays, Corrie, Quays Theatre, Quays, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Casualty, Little Voice **Theatre Editor Jay Darcy reviews The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Lowry, starring Shobna Gulati, Ian Kelsey, and Christina Bianco** I'm not sure exactly what to make of this play. The first act was a riot; the second a mixed bag. It's an Olivier Award-winning play, adapted into a film that won Michael Caine a Golden Globe, and the press night audience loved it. Perhaps it's just me. It's not that the second act was bad. In fact, there were lots of positives. I liked the poetic ending, with LV finally finding her voice - her *own* voice - in the now-empty club. ![52004374190 Baf6fd2f5d O](/media/mancunion/2022/06/52004374190_baf6fd2f5d_o-600x402.jpg) *Christina Bianco, Ian Kelsey and Shobna Gulati. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.* The play is unbelievably funny. The whole audience was in hysterics. It's both well-written and well-acted. Shobna Gulati - best-known for Coronation Street, but is also known for *Coronation Street*, *Dinnerladies*, *Doctor Who*, *Doctors*, *In the Club*, *Loose Women* and *Where the Heart Is* - was the star of the show. She was exceptional as the unlikeable, troubled Mari (LV's mother). Gulati proved herself as a terrific comedic force in the stage musical [*Everybody's Talking About Jamie*](https://mancunion.com/2021/09/07/the-show-everybody-should-be-talking-about-everybodys-talking-about-jamie/) - the last show she starred in at the Lowry - and its [film adaptation](https://mancunion.com/2021/11/06/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-review/). Fiona Mulvaney also received a barrel of laughs as the slow, sympathetic Sadie - perhaps the play's most likeable character. Praise must also be given to Gulati's *Corrie* and *Doctors* co-star, Ian Kelsey (also known for fellow soaps *Casualty* and *Emmerdale*, and dramas *Blue Murder* and *Down to Earth*) who was pretty likeable as the smarmy Ray - until that "twist". It's not easy playing a character made famous by Michael Caine - especially not one that won him a Golden Globe! The supporting cast were good. William Ilkley was funny as the unfunny Mr. Boo. Akshay Gulati played Billy, one of the play's only genuine characters - but the role was not sufficient enough to showcase his talent. ![52002827972 9e0b90e6b7 O](/media/mancunion/2022/06/52002827972_9e0b90e6b7_o-600x415.jpg) *Christina Bianco. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.* LV was played by Christina Bianco - one of the world's leading impressionists. I had previously seen Gulati in *Jamie*, and it was great to see her again, but perhaps my main reason for wanting to see this play was to finally see Bianco! In all honesty, I found LV to be pretty annoying - made worse by that irritating accent. At times, she really got on my nerves. It's always interesting when a play/film/etc.'s main character (or protagonist) is a little unlikeable (that's if LV is actually supposed to be a little unlikeable). Still, Bianco's vocal talent cannot be denied. Her impressions are next-to-none and seeing her imitate everyone from Shirley Bassey to Marilyn Monroe was a real joy. ![52003849606 E96d4206eb O](/media/mancunion/2022/06/52003849606_e96d4206eb_o-600x372.jpg) *Christina Bianco. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.* The second act began with what was essentially a Bianco showcase, before taking a dark turn. LV's near-flawless breakdown was reminiscent of 'Rose's Turn' ([*Gypsy*](https://mancunion.com/2020/01/30/review-gypsy/)). She hopped from impression to impression, like a robot breaking down. She was not prepared to be Ray's Stepford *daughter* anymore. This contrasted well with Mari's messy, manic breakdown. Mari and LV might be mother and daughter, but they could not be more different. Mari is a terrible mother, yet Gulati had me feeling sorry for her and wondering what happened in her life to make her such a cold-hearted, callous cow. ![52002827882 E282029b19 O](/media/mancunion/2022/06/52002827882_e282029b19_o-600x399.jpg) *The cast of Little Voice. Photo: Pamela Raith Photography.* Designer Sara Perks deserves great praise for her spectacular set. We walked into the auditorium to see a house onstage - the inside of part of a house, which looked like it had been cut off the rest of the house, complete with crumbling walls. It was reminiscent of the open house in [Home, I'm Darling](https://mancunion.com/2019/04/30/review-home-im-darling/) - though that house looked more like an open doll's house than a house split in two. *The Rise and Fall of Little Voice* is undoubtedly an interesting play, even though the second act began to drag - even so, the second act was intriguing. It's not a play I plan to see again, but I'm glad I saw it - even if it did not hit the right note (pardon the pun). *The Rise and Fall of Little Voice* plays at [the Lowry (Quays Theatre)](https://thelowry.com/whats-on/the-rise-and-fall-of-little-voice/) until 11th June, [touring the UK](https://littlevoiceuk.com/) until mid-July.