Stepping Out
by Richard Harris
Skegness Musical Theatre Company
Various Venues
17 - 24 June 2023
This feelgood comedy will hit all the right notes when it begins its min-tour late this week. Richard Harris' Stepping Out is a timeless comic classic and it will provide something for everyone when Skegness Musical Theatre Company, directed by Andrea Hall, literally step out on their four date mini-tour of local venues. Review Culture was invited to watch a dress rehearsal in advance of its opening night on Saturday this week.
It would be too easy to suggest that Harris's play is simply an out and out comedy, indeed, it would do the show an injustice as it is about more than just showing a bunch of daft tap dancers doing comic routines. The script is layered and delves into some quite moving and emotional corners, that can be discovered at every adult education or hobbyist class running today. People choose to join in with such ventures for a host of reasons and Hall's production demonstrates that fact beautifully. They may attend to socialise, they may attend to fantasise about what could be or might have been, they attend to escape the drudgery of everyday life.
This particular group of ne'er do wells is led by teacher Mavis played by the charismatic Jo Fitzwilliams who looks every inch the former show girl/dancer. She runs a weekly tap dancing class for fun, letting people have a good time doing something they love. There is a hint of regret for an unfulfilled career on the West End stage, but Mavis loves the attendees at her class and enjoys watching them grow in confidence and ability. She is accompanied by the imperious Mrs Fraser, a matriarchal battle axe who sees her services as indispensable playing piano and advising Mavis on the viability of routines. Sandra Colman gives a wonderful performance as Mavis's overly tetchy mother-figure and the withering looks she gives could freeze a wooly mammoth.
It may be unkind to suggest that the class is full of oddballs, but I cannot think of a less insulting description at this stage. We have Geoffrey, the only man in the class played with bumbling awkwardness by Connor Ratcliffe, who comically stands head and shoulders above the women in the cast making his presence even more visible as he attempts to shuffle off to Buffalo. His long limbs accentuate the difficulties he endures in following choreography but his family have grown up and flown the nest and now he is a widower looking for friendship.
There is Lynne, the young nurse who needs to get away from the pressure of work and her nervous exhaustion is conveyed perfectly by Alisha Coote. Dorothy, played by Joanna Thain, is a well-intentioned member of the DHSS, trying so hard to convince other that she isn't a spy reporting back on those who bend the benefits rules. and Thain manages to evoke so much sympathy from the audience.
Sylvia (Gayle Howitt-Bradley) is a tough nut who calls a spade a bloody shovel, her bold and brassy performance raises many chuckles throughout. Then there is Rose, sympathetically played by Jean Taylor, who has to wear a wig to hide her hair loss following medical treatment.
As is so often the case in ensembles such as this there is the wheeler dealer who always seeks to make a profit out of any bad situation and this play is no exception. Here, that is Maxine portrayed by Natasha Connor. Always with an eye for a profit, Maxine is very much in the mold of Walker from Dad's Army, and Connor milks the part for all it is worth, complete with a comic estuary accent.
The original class is completed by Andi, Rebecca Sylvester quietly steals scenes with her expressive performance saying more without speaking than her lines allow. The newcomer, who becomes something of a cuckoo in the nest is Vera, played with absolute relish by director Andrea Hall. Her Vera is a tragic, boastful figure obsessed with organizing everyone and everything. Her presence and her ability to stir up trouble manages to expose the dark underbelly of the class at times, but her heart is in the right place. The ensemble is rounded out by Sarah Eastwood and Debbie Hudson as additional characters and dancers.
This production treads a familiar path of happy amateurs striving against the odds to become noteworthy, even special. But it's not quite Rocky. This time the struggle is real as Mavis strives to develop a sharp and professional routine to be performed by the group at a charity fundraiser. The class lack the confidence and self-belief and Mavis's growing doubts are played brilliantly by Jo Fitzwilliams.
The play, though first performed in the 1980s still stands up because it is a play about an ongoing human condition, the need for socialisation and human interaction. Everyone needs someone to look out for them, for mutual support and friendship. And Stepping Out offers an affirmation that there is huge value in being a happy amateur mixing and sharing a love of an activity that we can share in.
The play visits a number of venues and the poster below shows dates and venue as well as how to obtain tickets.
Andy Evans 16 June 2023.
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