Because the play was set in the round, it became a much more intimate space. If you looked around you, you could see the reactions of other people in the audience. The doors, windows and cupboards were all set into the floor, yet still used for example, the wardrobes was opened, this gave a hint of realism and helped you to believe in the reality of the set.
The stairs were portrayed by a patterned piece of carpet in the shape of stairs which led up to LV and Mary’s rooms. These stairs worked effectively as whenever each character would go upstairs, they would use this piece of carpet. This added to the believability of the set.
LV’s room was effective as there was just a bed and a record player, the records were neatly lined along the floor, the wardrobe and cupboard was set into the floor (although still used in the play.) The emptiness of the room gave significance to the records and record player as they stood out from the set.
A circular record in the centre of the set turned into a small stage for LV to perform on, this rotated around so all of the audience could see the performance. This also helped the play as hen LV stepped onto this record, she sang like a star.
Costume
The costume was typical for the 1990’s and portrayed the characteristics of each character effectively. Mary was dressed to portray her as cheap, it also reflected the fact that she was trying to wear clothes from her lost youth. She wore clothes made of leather and leopard skin and always wore stilettos. The clothes Mary wore were all practical, allowing her to move around freely, as well as making quick changes such as wearing the black leather skirt, she just had to change her top and it looked like a different outfit. She always wore a skirt, never trousers, and always wore a low cut top. This showed that she was in touch with her femininity and wanted men to notice her.
LV’s costume started off with trainers, short trousers and a big jumper. The colour of the jumper was the same as the colour of her bed sheets it meant that when she lay on her bed, she seemed to disappear; this was effective as LV just seems to exist, she doesn’t stand out. The clothes hid her femininity and ensured she wasn’t noticed. In contrast to this, when LV sung, she wore glamorous dresses, in bright colours such as a long red dress she wore which sparkled. This was a dress she would be noticed in, she had a hair piece and looked like a star. When she gets home she then puts on her pyjamas, again they are the same colour as the bed sheets meaning she just seems to disappear again.
Sadie’s costume was always uncoordinated and she always looked scruffy and not very presentable. She wore socks with open sandals and wore mis matching colours. These all portrayed her character as somebody who doesn’t take a lot of pride in her appearance. Her socks have holes in them and her clothes are too small for her, this also shows her character doesn’t have a lot of money. When Sadie does dress up to go to the club, she wears again mismatching clothes and wears sandals with socks. This contrasts to the appearance of Mary when they both go to the club.
Lighting/special effects
Lighting was used in some parts to help show the reality of the set, such as the street light and the light through the windows and the door. Lights were used in the club and gave a really good effect. Coloured fairy lights lined the bar signs around the set. Disco balls rotated around giving a show of, light as LV was singing. This not only gave the audience the effect of the fact that the once house was now turned into a club, but also enhanced the effect of LV’s performance on stage.
The fire in the house was shown by flames running up the telephone pole and then along the electricity lines which ran towards the audience. This not only showed the house fire effectively but also shocked the audience, this got the attention of all of the audience.
An effective moment shown by light was when LV and Mary were in the house after the fire, the only light was from a torch, the torch highlighteds and focused upon significant parts of the set. When LV an Mry bump into each other in the house and their argument breaks out, LV shines a torch at Mary’s face, this is the moment when everything is stripped to the bone, finally we see LV with Mary, face to face. The torch light makes this moment a lot more effective as the rest of the set is in pitch darkness, the only thing the audience can see is the faces of the two characters, this expresses the idea of the truth being in the eyes of somebody. The torch light builds up the tension of the scene considerably.
Music and Sound
The main sounds used were those of the music being played on LV’s record player. The volume changed all of the time to fit in with the scene. Whenever anything good happened to Mary, she would always put on her Jackson Five record, this song became significant to the emotions of Mary.
The songs that LV played were all classic songs, all of which the audience would recognise, this added to the interest of the audience as they could relate to many of the songs. When LV sung, she impersonated People such as Marilyn Monroe, the effectiveness of this was that LV would hide behind these impersonations; it was when she sung these songs that she suddenly came alive and was noticed.
The contrast of sounds was through LV’s singing. When in her bedroom at home, she would sing quietly, sometimes it was just a whisper. When she got onto the stage in the club, she suddenly became a start; she sung the songs loudly and with confidence. This contrast in sound added to the intensity of the scenes.
Acting
I felt that the character of Mary was portrayed affectively and in a believable manner. She was somebody who you could recognise as a working class mother who is trying to fulfil her lost youth. The language she used and her body language all reflected the down to earth woman she was. The one negative point I would make would be that at the end of the play when she was begging for forgiveness off LV, her use of words changed considerably through lines such as ‘I beseech you!’ This line made her character less believable as her voice had changed too much.
I found that the character of Sadie wasn’t portrayed very well as she came across as somebody who had a mental disability when this wasn’t who her character actually was. The moment that made me think this was when she stood still and was sick all down herself, she just stood and froze. This seemed a really strange moment as all of the focus of the audience was upon her. She seemed to be more of a caricature than a character. Sadie was the one character that I couldn’t quite believe in and this affected my view of the performance she did considerably.
Key Moments
At the very end of the play when Billy takes LV up in the mechanical lift, she is singing and sparkles are falling from the sky. Billy kisses LV on the forehead, this is the moment when we see that it is a very innocent relationship that they hold with each other and it is more of a caring friendship. It is a beautiful moment when LV seems like at last she is at peace with herself and has finally let somebody get close to her.
The moment when LV told her Mother why she was so quiet was very significant as we finally heard what LV was really feeling; she emptied her mind of everything. She told of how she never spoke as she ‘couldn’t get a word in’. We then realise how throughout the play Mary has filled the space with noise and movement, there had been no room for LV.
Conclusion
I thought the play was excellent and communicated the story of Little voice really effectively. I felt I could relate to the down to earth approach and the depth of the characters. I thought that the way LV sung in each scene meant that the scenes were broken up and so made more effective. The story didn’t drag on at all and so it ended while I was still enjoying it. All of the techniques and effects that were used made the play ‘Little Voice’ was performed in a really effective way and I thoroughly enjoyed it.