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Stepping Out
Part of the 2003 Pitlochry Festival Theatre Season for full details of
the theatre &
season
here .
Playwright - Richard Harris.
Director - Ken Alexander & Rita Henderson.
Set Designer - Geoff Rose.
Costume Designer - Anya Glinski.
Co - Choreographer - Carrie Ellis.
Lighting Designer - Mark Pritchard.
Company - Pitlochry Theatre
Company .
Cast - here .
Venue - Pitlochry Theatre e-mail booking
01796 484626.
Dates and Times - here .
Run Time - 2 hours 20 mins including 15 mins interval.
Reviewer - Thelma Good.
All the cast make the light theatrical dance.
Stepping Out - Pitlochry Festival Theatre Production.
Vera - Amanda Beveridge and Mrs Fraser - Janet De Vigne.
© Keith Brame 2003.
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He could have been trampled under foot but the lone man dressed in an
increasingly wild style of jersey makes sure he's really contributing
as do all the cast to the light theatrical dance. Philip Hazelby
is the two left feet, abstracted widower who has signed up for a dance
class and finds himself surrounded by women of all shapes and sizes in
a North London church hall.
Richard Harris's play concentrates on all the class as they gradually
move from stumbling acquaintance with their feet and each other until
they become, if not tip top tap dancers, at least stepping well in the
right direction. They all have reasons for being there but Harris rightly
glances over these. They never dominate the play as the class practise,
and practise for a charity performance.
Yes it's escapist, shying away from the implications of a bandaged hand
or dance teacher Mavis, Carrie Ellis, whose careful timing doesn't
extend to her body's monthly rhythm. But it is well observed fun under
Ken Alexander's and Rita Henderson's direction and the cast give ten recognisable
characters to dance with the lightly shaded script. The church hall set
has a ghastly real look with a high stage at the back, the floor in front
of it is pretty cramped when 9 actors are hoofing to the piano tunes released
by Mrs Fraser's firm digits.
Ah, the pianist. Oh gem of a part and an actress, Janet De Vigne
has the type to the tweed, the hat and the shoes, striking the right tone
of "I will say this and you will take it on board." Amanda
Beveridge in high form, it's sadly her last season at Pitlochry, sharply
and finely honed as the new girl Vera. A smart wasp you'd swat with satisfaction,
as she pulls on the rubber, (wait for it) to brush clean the loo u-bend
while driving the rest of the class round it.
Stepping out has a medley of characters with Fiona Steel's Andy,
a woman so uncomfortably brittle, Louise Davidson's brassy Maxine,
Lousie Bolton's quietly confident young Lynne, gawky Dorothy,
Shelley Otway, who flails like a uncontrolled windup dancing doll
and Rose, Lynette Clarke, the Afro-Caribean who ain't got the beat.
Completing the troupe and affording us much mirth is Angela Darcy's
Sylvia as she cheerfully accepts her own life's dance ain't anything
special.
The actors also do well in some pretty ropey and rib tickling dancing
as they tip tap their way to the concert gradually getting in step. It's
a good light entertainment with a restrained nod at why people go to horrible
church halls week after week. It certainly isn't the decor, looking at
this you'll realise it's the company.
© Thelma Good 17 May 2003 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast:
Mavis - Carrie Ellis.
Mrs Fraser - Janet De Vigne.
Lynne - Louise Bolton.
Dorothy - Shelly Otway.
Maxine - Louise Davidson.
Andy - Fiona Steele.
Geoffrey - Philip Hazelby.
Sylvia - Angela Darcy.
Rose - Lynette Clarke.
Vera - Amanda Beveridge.
Stepping Out's Dates & times of Performances:-
.
May Thursday
8th May, 2pm, Thursday 8th May, 8pm, Saturday 10th May, 8pm, Saturday
17th May, 8pm, Friday 23rd May, 8pm, Tuesday 27th May, 8pm, Wednesday
28th May, 2pm, Friday 30th May, 8pm.
June Monday 2nd June, 8pm, Saturday 7th June, 8pm, Tuesday 10th
June, 8pm, Wednesday 11th June, 2pm, Friday 13th June, 8pm, Thursday 19th
June, 8pm, Saturday 21st June, 2pm, Monday 30th June, 8pm.
July Friday 4th July, 8pm, Friday 11th July, 8pm, Wednesday 16th
July, 8pm, Saturday 19th July, 2pm, Wednesday 23rd July, 8pm, Saturday
26th July, 2pm.
August Saturday 2nd August, 8pm, Thursday 7th August, 8pm, Monday
11th August, 8pm
Saturday 16th August, 2pm, Friday 22nd August, 8pm, Saturday 30th August,
8pm.
September Thursday 4th September, 8pm, Wednesday 10th September,
8pm, Saturday 13th September, 2pm, Thursday 18th September, 8pm, Tuesday
23rd September, 8pm, Wednesday 24th September, 2pm, Monday 29th September,
8pm.
October Saturday 4th October, 2pm, Saturday 11th October, 8pm,
Tuesday 14th October, 8pm and final performance Wednesday 15th October,
2pm.
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