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Richard Harris’s popular play, which hilariously chronicles the attempts of a tap dancing class to master their subject, continues to surface on a regular basis.

This production contains some tweaks that generally work well. Extra dances used for time transitions are a bonus but the addition of young children have no relevance to the story lines.

Watching their antics as the class progresses from absolute beginners to competent hoofers still provides great fun.

The play also offers an insight into the lives of each character and their reasons for attending these classes – all share the need to escape from their domestic problems. They may well be cliché figures but they are made creditable by a strong cast.

However, audibility problems crop up occasionally. Tamzin Outhwaite takes on the central figure of Mavis, the dance teacher who still yearns for life as a professional dancer. It is manifested in a superb dream routine.

It is the interfering and tactless Vera that gets the biggest response from the audience. She is a monstrous creation that is funny and cringe-making in the hands of the excellent Amanda Holden.

There is a delightful cameo from the dead-pan Judith Barker as the curmudgeonly accompanist.

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