Stepping Out

Author: Pauline Surrey

Information

Date
21st September 2024
Society
NOMADS
Venue
The Nomad Theatre, East Horsley
Type of Production
Play
Director
Nikky Kirkup
Written By
Richard Harris

This charming play was first produced in 1984 and won the Evening Standard Comedy of the Year award, and was later produced on Broadway.  It is set in a typical London church hall, where 8 very different people, 7 ladies and one gentleman, attend a weekly tap-dancing class, for various different reasons. It is a cleverly crafted play, with very well drawn characters.  Director Nikky Kirkup gathered an excellent cast, who were able to intrigue as well as amuse us, and of whom I think we all became very fond.

The set was a marvellous evocation of a typical church hall, complete with lockers, notice boards, a piano, a rickety table, scruffy old chairs, a photo board and so on. Many bags were in evidence, especially for Mrs Fraser, the elderly pianist, containing, one supposed, her endless supply of magazines and snacks. Canes appeared at one stage, a motley collection of hats, plus toppers and canes for the finale.

As varied as the attendees of such a typical tap-dancing class, so varied were the costumes. Mavis, the class teacher, was of course wearing the proper gear. Others aspired to it in a somewhat haphazard manner, at least wearing leg warmers and leggings. Shy Andy invested in a new proper leotard, and really looked the part. Vera invested in a very expensive silver jump suit, which looked very swish, so we knew she meant to stay the course! Later hats and canes appeared, and ill-fitting pink and white striped blazers. But for the grand finale all appeared immaculate in black – superbly kitted out.

Both sound and lighting were very effective throughout. Some fun was had with spots at one stage, and of course lighting came into its own for the grand finale.

The curtain opened onto the first, maybe September, session of an already existing tap-dancing class. Like in any such dance or exercise class, people don’t know each other particularly well, and just a bit of small talk goes on as they wait for the session to begin. Thus we were introduced gradually, in bite sized chunks, to all the characters involved. And we sized them up, as one does when trying out a class for the first few sessions. Newcomers tend to be apprehensive – who looks friendly and welcoming, where shall I stand, will I be in anyone’s ‘space’. But some barge right in, as our Vera does here, no shrinking violet she!

Maxine (Melanie  Dunn) was a confident lass, who always seemed to have various bits of kit for sale, and later was able, kind of, to source hats and other equipment for the class.

Andy (Abi Essex) touched us most, probably, in that she tentatively purchased a blue leotard from Mavis, showing her intention to stick with the class, and put in her best effort. A shy, timid character, always looking round in confusion as the moves got more complex, she quite won our hearts. The question was: did she also win the heart of Geoffrey (Julian Edney)? He was as shy as anyone could be, yet obviously also really brave, as any man would have to be to enter an all female class! He had the most marvellous facial expressions in all kinds of situations, but as to a potential romance, we will never know.  That was one of the good things about the writing here, so much was left in the air, we had so many unanswered questions about all the characters.

Dorothy (Selena Edney), too, gained our sympathy early. She didn’t have much of a life, being the main carer for her elderly mother.  A nervous type of lady, worked at the DWP, a spinster, who resented her married brother’ lack of interest in playing his part in looking after mother occasionally so she could have a break.

Mavis (Sue Hudson), the slick class teacher, looked the part – slim, trim and a good dancer.  She had a lot to deal with, that class would have frustrated many a dance teacher! Her elderly accompanist, Mrs Fraser (Judy Abbott), always throwing in grumpy asides, always patiently reading a magazine and putting away various snacks, was a great comic character.

Lynne (Samantha Potten) was a dear, very keen on the dancing, and always nervously biting her nails.  We would have liked to have found out more about her. Rosa (Laura Spalding) had hair colour issues, and talked a fair bit about her man. Sylvia (Vykki Mash) was a brash, cheeky chappy character, who also talked a lot about her man, and about sex.

So then in breezed Vera (Moyra Brookes), very middle class, a pushy lady, who immediately went to stand right at the front of the class. She didn’t stay long there, Mavis soon put her right! She was the kind of character to make all other class members groan when she turned up, and at first they were astonished at her bare-faced cheek, making tactless comments, generally barging in where her input wasn’t required, and turning up her nose at Sylvia’s crude comments.

The whole cast made all these characters very real, and got the most out of the comedy involved. It was a great team effort, and the Director, Nikky Kirkup, is to be congratulated. Especially so as she was also the choreographer. When the curtain rose on the final ‘show’ scene, where we were all full of trepidation as to what kind of muddle might ensue, the marvellous precision and pizzazz of the class’s top-hatted number was absolutely thrilling! All their efforts, all Mavis’s stress, all had come good in the end.  We all left the theatre with a smile on our faces.

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