Stepping Out
Rotorua Musical Theatre
Casa Blanca Theatre
Runs until March 24
Set in a rather dull church hall in London, Stepping Out shows dance teacher Mavis (played by Rachael Somerville) and cantankerous pianist Glenda (Gae Wheeler) lead a class of seven women and one lonely widower, Geoffrey (Steve
Fisher).
Comedic magic happened as the characters mingled and sometimes collided.
The mousy Andy (Sally Smyth) hinted at romantic interest with Geoffrey, but reached her boiling point when she met up with uppity busybody Vera (Natasha Rivers Smith).
Pushy saleswoman Maxine (Gill Visser) tried to come to grips with her stepmotherhood as sweet and naive Dorothy (Rebecca White) dealt with the being a dutiful daughter. Dorothy came up against surly loudmouth Sylvia (Danielle Visser) and even gentle nurse Lynne (Valerie Smith) took an occasional pot-shot at "token Paddy" Rose (Vicki Needham).
The dancing, choreographed by Pam Shanks, remained a bit of a sideline to the story until the glittering final scene, when suddenly the dancers really let me know they can dance.
