STEPPING OUT till 14 August

New Vic Theatre, Newcastle Under Lyme

Runs: 2hrs 45mins. One interval: 20 minutes
Box office 01782 717962 runs until Saturday 14th August 2004

Review: Ranjit Khutan: 6th August 2004

A weekly tap class set in a church hall - a touch of glitz and glamour. Hilarious from the outset and it just gets better.Mavis runs a dance class in a church hall which attracts a disjointed bunch of people. Throw in Mrs Fraser the bossy, moody piano teacher, the stress of working together for a community performance and you have all the ingredients for a highly funny play.

The play may look simple from the outside, the characters may not be the most 3D ever created, but, it soon becomes clear the interaction between them is complex.

Harris has included a diverse mix - fragile, enthusiastic, lonely, shy, casual, loud mouthed, always looking for a quick sale, searching for acceptance, looking for friendship - each character very different from the next. From this initial diversity Harris gradually shows the commonality between them as they prepare for their community performance. The stark differences are displayed by the actors from the outset - a mark of the skill with which each of them fills out their characterisation.

There are many hilarious moments and each actor has chance to shine. In particular Beth Tuckey is strong, energetic and immensely expressive in her portrayal of the dance class leader Mavis, and Julia Hill's Vera is hilarious and shouldn't be missed.

The overall piece is beautifully directed by Sue Wilson who compliments the character's development with a glitzy veneer that results in a stunning well-choreographed dance performance.

Mavis: Beth Tuckey
Mrs Fraser: Rosalind Adams
Lynne: Devon Black
Dorothy: Jean Perkins
Maxine: Susie Baxter
Andy: Johanne Murdock
Geoffrey: Geoffrey Abbott
Rose: Lorna Laidlaw
Sylvia: Angela Darcy
Vera: Julia Hills

Director: Sue Wilson
Designer: Lis Evans
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Lighting Designer: Jo Dawson
Sound Designer: James Earl-Davis
Stage manager: Andy Billington

2004-08-11 08:57:15