You're winsome, you lose some.In Camilla Whitehill's loss of innocence story, Where Do Little Birds Go?, winsome teen, Lucy, is smitten by the theatre, bitten by the bug, after attending a performance of Charlie Girl and decides to move to London to tread the boards or become a barmaid, another profession that has appeal for the wide-eyed and garrulous girl.
It's 1966 and the 18 year old finds lodging's with a distant relation and a job in a pub. Still yearning to sing, she takes a position in a club, The Winston, as an hostess, hoping to make contacts in the theatrical world, denizens of which are rumoured to frequent the establishment.
The club is owned by the Krays, the notorious King Pins of London's crime scene and Lucy becomes beholden to them, to the point of becoming an escaped criminal's concubine while on the lam.
Bishanyia Vincent gives a winsome and winning performance as Lucy, commencing with a song from Charlie Girl, and then giving a motor mouth description of her journey, interspersed with breakouts of songs, accompanied by pianist and musical director, Liam D Kemp.
Playing on the Look Back in Anger set, this late night production, directed by Giles Gartell-Mills, accentuates the grunge aspect of the piece, playing up the setting of the conjugal incarceration episode, where Lucy is mounted and pounded in illicit stated mime on a dodgy, creaky iron bed.
With Beehive bravura, Vincent strips the layers of Lucy's story as she peels her apparel – trench coat to mini skirt to Sixties foundation garments presenting a character who sees life as coming up roses even when surrounded by those pushing up daisies. It's an exuberant, charming and enchanting performance, exuding cheerfulness in the midst of chilling ordeal.
Where Do Little Birds Go? is perfectly programmed with the Old Fitz's “mainstage” production of Look Back In Anger, but also warrants it's own particular late night audience.
Old Fitz Theatre
Where Do Little Birds Go?
by Camilla Whitehill
Director Giles Gartrell-Mills
Venue: Old Fitz Theatre | 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo
Dates: 30 August – 11 September 2016
Tickets: $25
Bookings: www.oldfitztheatre.com/wdlbg
