THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511210128
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: Montague Gammon III
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
How much one likes ``Stepping Out,'' now running at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, depends on how one feels about entertainment that is predictable versus that which is novel.
Richard Harris' amusing and pleasant script is a modern fable about how pluck and determination will win through, about how people from vastly differing backgrounds can become allies and friends and about the vagaries of existence often termed the ``little ironies of life.''
In other words, it leans sharply toward the predictable.
Harris uses a reasonably clever premise to assemble his cast of characters. Seven women and one man are taking an elementary tap dancing class. Their teacher is a former chorus girl; her resident pianist is an older, cantankerous woman with a secret fondness for the bottle.
Since music and dance are necessarily part of the action, community groups can thus reap some of the benefits of staging a musical without too many of the logistical and artistic headaches that accompany even small scale productions of conventional musical shows.
The author contrived his batch of students to represent a broad cross-section of British social backgrounds. There are the entrepreneur and the low-level bureaucrat, the cockney and the society wife, the young nurse and the young activist, the Caribbean black and the widower.
Between episodes of practicing their nascent dancing skills, they banter, confide in one another, squabble and indulge in the self-revelations obligatory in such scripts. Once their class has been invited to take part in a charity show, their work and their worries focus on the approaching public performance.
If the resolution and epilogue seem just a little incredible, it is just that step into fantasy which makes such fables appealing. Escapism, and ``Stepping Out'' is a mild form of psychological escapism, would be pointless if it dealt only with events that are likely.
The acting throughout, under the direction of Shirley Hurd, is believable and consistent. Megan Jones, as the snobbish Vera, and Courtney Tierney, as the aggressively working class Sylvia, get the lion's share of audience attention. Tierney's acting is broader and more expansive, while Jones' energy is more focused.
Maxine, owner of a small fashion shop, is played by Kathleen Murphy. Her performance has an easy, unforced quality that makes this characterization especially convincing. The same may be said of Cynthia Tademy, who plays Rose for the two November weekends of performance. Scheduling conflicts necessitate her being replaced by Rosemary Andrews for the December shows.
Jennifer L. Wilkins is cast as the mousy young Andy, a woman of almost non-existent self-esteem. Because her character is so self-effacing, her very worthwhile performance could easily be overlooked. Veteran actor Clifford Hoffman plays the only man in the show, the widower Geoffrey. Hoffman has an easy time, gracefully playing a part that hardly strains his ability.
The nurse Lynne may have the least prominent role, but Jennifer McArdle has found an exceptionally sharp, unforced definition for the character. McArdle, a newcomer to Tidewater, is obviously an actress to watch. Grace Atkinson is convincing as the likable, slightly eccentric Dorothy.
Karen Buchheim choreographed the show and plays dance teacher Mavis, while Kay Burcher has the part of the piano playing Mrs. Fraser. Buchheim is attentive and smooth in her acting, and her one dance solo impressive. Burcher turns in an exceptionally clear, unmannered and well thought out performance. If this is not a personal best for Burcher, it surely comes close.
``Stepping Out'' provides gentle humor and warm sentiment in a comfortably familiar package, produced with competence and charm. It offers viewers the equivalent of a favorite old reclining chair, providing relaxation and release from tension without demanding any effort. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
WHEN AND WHERE
What: ``Stepping Out,'' by Richard Harris
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9, and 3
p.m. Sunday. Where: Little Theatre of Virginia Beach at the corner
of 24th Street and Barberton Drive.
Tickets: 428-9233
by CNB