In a seedy church hall setting a varied assortment of characters and their teacher assemble each week for tap-dancing lessons. What with talk of redundancies, mention of nuclear war, and the absence of mobiles, it’s all very eighties.
All ten roles in Stepping Out are sharply differentiated, both by writer Richard Harris and by the well-cast actors. And a wit-filled, evenly spread script gives everyone a meaty part.
Best gag of the evening? “It may be February outside, but it’s always August under your armpits!”
A permanently perplexed Geoffrey (played in a cracking performance by Stephen James), who never musters enough confidence to finish a sentence, is the token male. But every character is unashamedly token, a well-observed representative type. And this is not an overtly feminist play; it’s about ten people, all of whom are in some way inadequate. It’s therefore about all of us.
Danielle Hall is terrific as Mavis, the sadly unfulfilled teacher. She touches the audience in a beautifully handled scene where, thinking she’s alone, Mavis loses herself in a ballet solo.
And there’s another striking performance from Joey Hoyes, as the common and hard-bitten but sympathetic Sylvia, who’s continually gum-chewing and/or filing her nails.
In a Lace Market debut, Sara Heafford is another stand-out, as the affluent but pretentious and pathetically self-deluded Vera.
And Sarah Taylor is a hoot as Mrs Fraser, the unmanageable pianist with a fondness for barbed observations and a tipple on the side. Maxine – troublesome homelife and a deep personal sadness – is done in another excellent performance from Arwen Makin.
One could go on.
After all the skeletons have finally tumbled out of the cupboards, the show ends with a joyous display of splendidly choreographed and executed tap dancing from everyone.
This is another fine piece of work from director Bex Mason.
Stepping Out, Lace Market Theatre, Halifax Place, Nottingham, until Saturday, July 27. Performances at 7.30pm with a Sat matinee at 2.30pm. All remaining performances are sold out.
