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Richard Harris’
Stepping Out was first performed in the provinces in 1984 and
went on to become a West End smash hit with a later musical
version lifting the show to a new dimension. On the surface,
the play is a delightfully warm comedy that at times will have
you rolling in the aisles with hysterical laughter. Scratch
that surface and you will find hidden depths where nothing is
what it first appears to be as you embark on a roller coaster
of emotion, hurtling through the loves, lives and traumas of
the ostensibly ordinary, uncomplicated characters.
Set in a dingy
church hall, Stepping Out tells the story of nine women and
one man in their quest to become competent tap dancers under
the expert guidance of former professional performer Mavis
Turner. Initially, the group appear to be attending merely to
tone up tired muscles, perhaps shed a few pounds and generally
have a good time. Certainly what they lack in ability, they
more than make up for in enthusiasm. However, as the lessons
progress and the troupe improve enough to be invited to appear
in a local charity show, the stress that mounts with the
impending performance, initiates a number of startling
revelations by the characters.
Undoubtedly the
driving force in the class is Maxine, played by Vicki.
Slipping naturally into the role, her portrayal of the
attractive, sharp, shrewd, ever resourceful, always in control
East Ender, displayed some magical comedy moments (enhanced by
some truly outrageous leotards), bringing tears to the eyes.
But it was her poignant and heart rending adaptation of her
alter ego that really struck a chord. As she confessed to
concealing her insecurities behind the strong façade, using
any means possible to disguise the void of her inability to
fulfil her yearning of having a child, the audience witnessed
a performance of immense sensitivity in complete contrast to
the comedy of previous scenes before the high energy and
euphoria of the physically demanding dance routines of the
finale, executed with perfect precision.
In turn, each
character took to the spotlight revealing their real motives
behind joining the dance class. For example there was the
delightfully eccentric portrayal of timid social security
worker Dorothy played by Sue Hodge, eagerly trying to please
in a bid to cover her loneliness and the cheerfully overweight
Sylvia whose happy-go-lucky image was a brilliant foil to
detract from her family’s financial problems and benefit
fraudulent antics of her husband played by Victoria Bush.
Giving equally impressive performances were; Su Douglas as
snobby but kind hearted Vera whose life wasn’t quite as
idyllic as she would have everyone believe; dowdy do-gooder
Andy played by Glenda McKay whose apparent lack of fashion
sense covered a multitude of physical abuse injuries; Miquel
Brown as the self-styled, laid back Rose; Elizabeth Ball as plain Lynne, Nik Stoker
as the lone man and Audrey Leybourne
as the forceful Mrs Fraser. Anita Harris was the very epitome
of the quintessential dance teacher Mavis Turner whose own
shattered dreams were revived through her troupe and who was
also able to add her own pleasing vocal talents to the role.
Added to this, the clever
use of lighting, ingenious set design and spectacular costumes
made this production nothing short of a triumph. |
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