the accent 2 February 2008
I had a lovely email from a woman who thinks my Irish accent is cute. I think it must all be relative though as the last thing I could listen to all day is me. In my head I sound different, slightly deeper and less flat. Richard does a deadly accurate version of me using only sounds and yet I still understand exactly what words he’s going for. In The Shrew I have roughed things up even more, as I would like the sound of Katarina’s voice to be quite harsh and, well I guess, shrewish and the accent more emphasised, but I do get worried that people won’t get that it is put on and realise that I don’t sound quite so hard on the ear in real life. At least one man in Galway was convinced I was doing a Mayo accent in the play – hope that’s not too much of an insult to that fine county – but the good thing about his comment was I knew he felt it was not the voice/accent I am saddled with from day to day – again a relativity but welcome nonetheless. Hey, one day I might get to play a nice woman with a mellifluous voice…or perhaps I should just try to BE one? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…
