Stepping Out

As very new NODA members, Clavering Players had invited me along to review their latest production, Richard Harris' up-lifting and humorous comedy about the lives, loves and laughs of a group of amateur dance students at their weekly tap class.  Stepping Out is having something of a revival amongst amateur theatre groups and has plenty of scope for performers to create some very contrasting personalities, whilst endeavouring to master some basic tap dance routines.

Clavering village hall was perfect for the setting, the small curtained stage area augmented by a fairly large temporary apron, to accommodate the up-right piano and allow space for the various tap dance routines, which are an essential part of the play.  The set depicted the typical interior of a run-down community hall and provided the backdrop for the entrances and exits, which worked well.  The action takes place over several months and this was nicely reflected in the various outdoor garments and colourful leotards and leggings worn by the female characters, with fade-outs between the scenes ensuring the pace was reasonably brisk throughout the performance.

This comedy is full of delightful characters, who all have their own reasons for coming week after week to the class and, gradually, their personalities and inhibitions are drawn out through the clever dialogue.  Director Jennifer Scott-Reid, who also appeared as one of the characters in the production, had done a good job in choosing a well-balanced cast, who each gave a confident performance and, in the end, achieved a pretty solid final dance routine.

Netti Hayes, as Mavis the tap dance teacher, showed real talent as both a dancer and instructor, well-supported by Jenny Whyte, whose characterisation as the acerbic accompanist Mrs. Fraser was a delight.  Equally enjoyable was Judy Curry's portrayal of Andy, an unhappily married and self-sacrificing woman, who would rather stay in the shadows.  Her attempts to strike up a friendship with Geoffrey, the rather reserved widower who works in insurance, nicely played by Keith Nuttall, were quite moving.  In contrast, the two friends, Sylvia and Rose, who come more for the social side of the weekly class, provided much of the humour, with strong performances from both Teresa Hennessy and Sandra King.  Young Phoebe Hayes gave a good performanmce as Lynne, the student nurse, as did Sue Grant as Dorothy, who works in the local unemployment office and is accused by Sylvia of "shopping" her out-of-work husband for moonlighting.  Jennifer Scott-Reid, in addition to directing, also put in a solid performance as Maxine, who runs her own clothing business, but covers her lack of self-confidence by putting on a happy face.

But for me, Liz Stewart's characterisation of Vera, the busy-body and newcomer to the class, was outstanding.  Vera's penchant for cleanliness and orderliness, which disguises her own insecurity, was so well-acted and plausible, I felt Liz had got the measure of this character just right and I loved the silver lycra outfit!

Whilst the first act was full of light-hearted banter and fun, I did feel that the second act was slightly laboured and drawn out.  This may have been partly due to the change of mood and the growing tension amongst the characters and ultimate clash of personalities as they practiced their routine for their public debut.  However, the final scene, when they performed their routine in their colourful costumes, did much to dispel this feeling and rightly deserved the applause from the appreciative audience.

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