Stepping Out

Thank you as always for your warm welcome you certainly as a company have enhanced my genre of productions and tonight was another new one to me.

When I researched this musical, I found out that the inspiration for this show was based on a true event that happened in Richard Harris’ life. It is a feel-good story based on the lives and loves on a varied group of women and one man who meet to rehearse their tap-dancing skills in a dowdy hall in North London. The class gives them all a chance to escape from their day to day lives and the events that happen between them is the story of the performance. As a group they are asked to perform a tap dance at a concert and as they develop their skills much soul searching and funny moments happen along the journey. It was interesting to read that the first performance of the musical was at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in November 1996. 

​Andy Martin’s stage set was as always well presented. The majority of the detail was the hall where the classes took place and was positioned on the top playing area with a curtained performance area in the centre a piano stage left and chairs stage right. Various posters were on the wall and a door stage right. The lower playing area where most of the characters rehearsed was empty all but a small bench. The Coffee Shop and Wine bar were effectively shown by flats and table and chairs. The transformation of the upper stage area which was covered by a special curtain added impact to the group’s final performance. All the scene changes were carefully achieved and the personal props that were used whether large or small were well chosen and managed.

The various types of lighting used both on and off stage created the different moods required during the musical. The sound appeared a little distorted at the beginning and this made it a bit difficult to hear the words from the first musical number.  However, the quality did improve and text and songs were more distinguishable.

It was wonderful to have a live orchestra which brought so much to a musical performance. Your Musical Director had obviously spent much time with the cast to ensure lyrics and expressions were audible. They were able to work closely with the singers during their songs to make the best of their numbers.

The costumes and hair styles were great. They were all carefully crafted to show every member of the cast’s personalities. The variety of hats presented by Maxine added to the hilarity and the finale top hats, canes and sequinned jackets added to their spectacular final performance.

Your choreographer had worked hard with your team, who I know can all tap well to show their initial lack of co-ordination to the final fantastic razzle dazzle dance number.

A small cast of 10 with no ensemble to back them up meant there was no place for any member to hide. They all had to bring their best game and engage with the audience. The talented team chosen to perform were on point throughout the musical, demonstrated all the emotional baggage they brought with them and the finale demonstrated their collective skills in cart loads.

The ex-professional dance teacher Mavis spends a great deal of her time encouraging the willing but not all able members of her dance group but finds the stakes are raised when her tappers are asked to take part in a fund-raising event. Frustrations begin to creep in and tempers start to fray. She had a troubled home life and a big secret. Your actor did a great job, was able to demonstrate all the required emotions, showed that she was a talented dancer and sang with sensitivity. Her lines in ‘What I Want’ were very emotional.

The actor playing Mrs Fraser was great casting she created a believable, intolerant, sarcastic character who implied that she was doing everyone a favour by attending a rehearsal. Her acerbic comments came throughout the performance but she showed a caring side as a mother figure to Mavis. She encompassed the character sitting at the piano legs akimbo eating an apple. Her transformation at the end was joy to behold.

Late to join the class was expensively dressed, very neat, snooty, cleaning obsessed Vera.  She was into everyone’s business and continually telling all what to do but portrayed beautifully the sadness behind the smile concerning the close relationship between her daughter and husband. Your player fitted the role perfectly had good stage presence, she had some wonderful lines to deliver and was a great dancer. ‘Definitely You’ when she is redesigning Andy was well delivered it was good to see her put in her place by the others at the end.

Outspoken Maxine was continually telling all the tales of her life with confidence, but were they all true and was she as portrayed? A totally brash, outspoken characterisation well played by your actor. She had seen it and done it and anything you needed she could get not that the goods always transpired to be correct. She had some great lines and sang ‘Just the Same’ with feeling.

Rose loves the dancing but is always late. She is another member of the crew who has problems at home, has some great comedy lines and a penchant for wearing wigs. She loves to go for a drink after practice has great stage presence and a wonderful soulful voice. ’Don’t Ask Me’ was powerfully delivered.

I loved the outfits that Sylvia wore. She played a loud, totally full-on character with great comedy timing and a wonderful laugh which the audience enjoyed. It must be a difficult thing to dance really badly when it is a skill you have but she pulled it off. Her trips to the wine bar were with others in the class were loud and peppered with naughty jokes. Great characterisation and lines in ‘What do Men Think’.

The actor depicting the young student nurse and more accomplished dancer Lynee created a quiet measured character. She was eager to please and assist the other students her conversation with Mavis about the loss of a patient was poignant. Her duet with Dorothy was honestly delivered, a lovely blend of voices together.

Dorothy was convincingly portrayed by your player. She appeared on her bicycle and was very timid and uncertain with a desire to please and a constant sneeze. She was constantly repeating people’s last words and practising her tapping with over-the-top moves usually a scat behind and ended up the wrong way. She had great physical movement and her expressions and singing were excellent.  

The only male in the class was widower Geoffrey. The actor representing him gave him a gentle, reserved, shy and rather awkward persona which was ideal. His scenes with Andy were beautifully played and ‘Not Quite’ was heartfelt.

Andy’s only escape from her abusive husband was her weekly dance class. Your player created a nervous, quiet personality often found wringing her hands and apologising for herself. She created a lovely friendship with Geoffrey and their duets were delivered with feeling.

The conclusion of ‘Stepping Out’ was when all the dancers attired beautifully were able to demonstrate their new dancing skills which they all did with aplomb and were asked to return the following year. Your director and choreography created a fantastic show with wonderful songs and great one liners but, like many shows we needed a sequel to ensure Geoffrey and Andy were happy and Mavis’s news was well received.

This was truly a wonderful company performance. The characters on stage showed us a gamut of emotions, were funny and relatable and looked like their thoroughly enjoyed the performance as much as we did.

Many thanks for your kind invitation

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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