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ooohshereads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I saw this live and had to perform the Carol and Brenda scene for my GCSE. I’ve always wanted to re-read the play but never got round to it till now.
This is one of those plays that I definitely recommend seeing live. I still enjoyed it and it still holds relevancy today.
I saw this live and had to perform the Carol and Brenda scene for my GCSE. I’ve always wanted to re-read the play but never got round to it till now.
This is one of those plays that I definitely recommend seeing live. I still enjoyed it and it still holds relevancy today.
mxjoebest's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rebeccafell's review against another edition
2.0
“Why’s the world so tough? It’s like walking through meat in high heels”
I chose to read this as one of my texts for A-Level Drama and Theatre Studies and, as a Northerner, I loved the premise of this play; A play that focused on the working class hardships of the tumultuous latter years of the Thatcher era in the North. However, I feel like the writing on the most part in this is extremely exaggerated and, on some levels, grotesque. Trying to mirror typical working class Lancastrian dialect, Cartwright strings together slurs of profanities and harsh stereotypes to reflect the tensions in the north during the 80s. Whilst I can see why he did this- to reflect the hardships of mass unemployment and poverty- I feel that it was unneeded. Maybe this is because I come from a different class background in the North, but all the same, with writing like Cartwright’s I’m not surprised that the Southern stereotype towards people who live in the north is derived from feeling threatened by supposed northern aggression. However, on a more positive note, some of the dialect Cartwright actually crafts is superbly accurate, especially Scullery and Louise’s dialogue; in the moments where his writing is accurate, Cartwright brilliantly reflects typical North-Western humour and poignantly satirises Thatcherian society.
I chose to read this as one of my texts for A-Level Drama and Theatre Studies and, as a Northerner, I loved the premise of this play; A play that focused on the working class hardships of the tumultuous latter years of the Thatcher era in the North. However, I feel like the writing on the most part in this is extremely exaggerated and, on some levels, grotesque. Trying to mirror typical working class Lancastrian dialect, Cartwright strings together slurs of profanities and harsh stereotypes to reflect the tensions in the north during the 80s. Whilst I can see why he did this- to reflect the hardships of mass unemployment and poverty- I feel that it was unneeded. Maybe this is because I come from a different class background in the North, but all the same, with writing like Cartwright’s I’m not surprised that the Southern stereotype towards people who live in the north is derived from feeling threatened by supposed northern aggression. However, on a more positive note, some of the dialect Cartwright actually crafts is superbly accurate, especially Scullery and Louise’s dialogue; in the moments where his writing is accurate, Cartwright brilliantly reflects typical North-Western humour and poignantly satirises Thatcherian society.
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Drama:
A bittersweet drama which reunites the writer and star of 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'. Lorna is an alcoholic who lives alone in a down at heel flat. Then a young door to door salesman peddling stretch settee covers knocks on her door and discovers that she has a glamorous past.
Song & Lyrics by John O'Hara
Producer/Director Gary Brown
Jim Cartwright is a celebrated playwright. His plays include 'Road', 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" and "Two".
A bittersweet drama which reunites the writer and star of 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'. Lorna is an alcoholic who lives alone in a down at heel flat. Then a young door to door salesman peddling stretch settee covers knocks on her door and discovers that she has a glamorous past.
Song & Lyrics by John O'Hara
Producer/Director Gary Brown
Jim Cartwright is a celebrated playwright. His plays include 'Road', 'The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" and "Two".
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