Stepping Out

According to the plays writer Richard Harris, the inspiration for this play came from his wife, the actress Hilary Crane... ‘My wife started her career as a dancer and she liked to keep her foot in, as it were, so she went down to the local dance class and when she came back she suggested that I should go and have a look as she felt there might be a play in it for me’  Taking his wife’s advise Harris visited the local church hall where a ‘tap class’ was being held (his wife hadn’t been to the tap class – she’d been to a modern dance group) ... ‘It was by pure luck that I happened to go there and look through the window when the tap class was going on.  It struck me that they all seemed to be enjoying themselves and I thought if I could capture that, the pleasure they were getting out the class, I could be on to a winner!’

The play is set in a church hall and catalogues the lives of seven ladies, one man, a teacher and a pianist, all of whom, it transpires, have ‘so much’ going on in their lives!  The play exposes the trials and tribulations of each member of this group of seemingly ‘hapless hoofers’ who gather each week at a ‘tap class’ and who ultimately deliver a highly professional slick finale of ‘dance glamour and glitz’.

There is little or no doubt that the success of this play is highly dependent upon the ability of the ‘cast’ to establish, from the outset, strong individual characters and for the dialogue to be slick. The characters, their interactions and their relationships form the basis from which the humour of this play, is constructed and is reliant upon.  There were no weak links in this cast and I do believe that all the actors gave off their best producing some very interesting characters!

So, credit must go to Rebecca Dickinson (Director/Choreographer) and Ian Brookfield (Producer), for their efforts in staging and understanding this play.  I’m not sure what the ‘dance ability’ of those on stage was before the start of this production,  but we were taken on a very realistic journey from what appeared ‘novice to the seemingly flawless’ dancers, which I would have thought was a ‘big challenge’ for all concerned.. so well done, be proud!

Zoe Jones took the role of the exceptionally patient dance teacher ‘Mavis’. Zoe dealt with the role and the vast amount of dialogue thrown her way really well, good stage presence, creating a very believable character.  Her solo ‘Dream Dance’ was heartfelt!

‘Maxine’ was played well by Emma Hardacre.  A ‘Del Boy’ type character...’whatever you needed, ‘Maxine’ could get’, but she always struggled to keep her promises. Emma made this part her own, confident as the role demands, with good interaction and some great ‘one liners’ – ‘Geoffrey, I bet your sex life is as busy as that pullover’.

Emma Bailey played the ‘rough and ready’, ‘gum chewing’ ‘Sylvia’ really well.  Always making jokes at the expense of Geoffrey. Likes a drink and even though married to Tommy, likes to play the field. Emma had bags of attitude, very flirtatious, good stage presence and a great sense of comic timing.   

Kim Brookfield was perfect fit for the role as the ‘very neat,’ ‘very snooty’ ‘Vera’, who was ‘in everybody’s business - in a friendly sort of way’.  Married to Lionel – who it seems may well be having a ‘fling’ with Vera’s daughter from another marriage!  Kim had great diction, good stage presence and, again, good comic timing!  

Hannah Liddle looked totally comfortable in this role as naive but sincere ‘Dorothy’ who struggled a little with ‘The Pollen’!  Social Security worker who repeats people’s last word... word!  Again, a perfect fit for the role, good mannerisms, good characterisation and, again, good comic timing.

Hannah Wallis gave a well judged performance as the ‘eager to please’ ‘Lynne’. Lynne is a bubbly sort of character, a student nurse who delivers one of the more ‘poignant moments’ in the play with the news of a death of one of her patients. Good characterisation and good diction.

‘Rose’ was played really well by Fiona Clarke.  A bit scatty, bit dim, but always flamboyant - she just loved attending the classes!  Rose has problems at home with husband and son, but that never stops her from having a drink after class with Sylvia...again she looked comfortable in the role, good comic timing. 

The three ‘stand out’ performances for me came in the form of:
Lorraine Ryan was perfectly cast as the shy, insecure ‘Andy’.  ‘Andy’ sort solace from her home life where she was being physically abused by her husband by joining the group and forming a ‘close friendship’ with Geoffrey!  Lorraine kept in character throughout, great stage presence and great characterisation.

‘Geoffrey’ – the bashful, shy, bumbling Insurance man was played really well by Phil Quinn.  Phil made this role look so much easier that it undoubtedly was.  He had stage presence aplenty, great mannerisms, never out of character and again great comic timing. I just loved the scene where he was playing the piano when Mrs Fraser walked in.... the facial expressions and mannerisms from both were amazing!

Finally, Susan Hilton played the part of the grumpy, cantankerous pianist ‘Mrs Fraser’ wonderfully well. You just wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Mrs Fraser for sure!  Great comic timing, great facial expressions and looked far too ‘comfortable’ when she came to rehearsal drunk! 

Except for the ‘finale’, the play was performed to a single set which was simple yet effective and made best use of the entire stage.  Congrats to the Shaun McManus (Stage Manager), Amber Tabiner (Assistant Stage Manager) and their Set Building Team for their efforts and also to the Stage Crew for making everything work so well. Costumes were excellent, apt and totally enhanced the performance ...congrats to Sandra Dickenson and Susan Kennedy (Wardrobe).  Lights and sound were great throughout – congrats to Paul Carr. 

Finally, congratulations again to everyone involved. Thank you so much for inviting my wife and I and for making us feel so welcome. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

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