A group of misfits meets once a week in a church hall to learn tap. When their teacher agrees to do a charity show, they suddenly have to up their game. And, thanks to Richard Baron’s slick production and Kenn Oldfield’s admirable choreography, the packed audience laughs, cheers and gasps along with them.
It is very much an ensemble piece, with Susie Fenwick’s OTT snob Vera, Karen Traynor’s nervous Dorothy, Wendy Mae Brown’s “token spade” - her words - Rose and Carrie Ellis’ streetwise Maxine all contributing to the overall feel. Particular mention must be made of Johanne Murdock’s restrained performance as domestic violence sufferer Andy, Lucy Williamson as gritty teacher Mavis, who performs a beautiful and moving solo dance just for herself, and of Katie Kerr’s bravely overweight Lynne, who ably demonstrates how good she could have been had she not grown “too tall”. Brian Capron’s painfully shy Geoffrey puts his two left feet to good use, and Rosemary Ashe is excellent as no-nonsense pianist Mrs Fraser, especially when she bursts out of her shell. But the show belongs to Jessie Wallace as gum-chewing slapper Sylvia, putting in the most natural performance of the cast. Her comic timing is perfect.
Richard Harris’ play only scratches the surface of his characters, giving mere glimpses of the complexities beneath. I wonder if - 25 years on - that is enough. Rather than character development we get a bravura tap performance of Putting on the Ritz and are left with a warm glow. Which I suppose is not a bad way to spend an evening.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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