NODA Review

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‘TAKING STEPS’

Adel and Ireland Wood Community Centre

Wednesday 30th October 2024

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Alan Ayckbourn is by far and away our most popular modern British playwright, his speciality being farce – and I think ‘Taking Steps’ is one of his best. S.T.A.R.S, a well-established drama group in Adel, Leeds, rose up to the challenge of presenting this play very well indeed!

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The plot is a complicated Ayckbourn special – when Tristram Watson, a rather meek and ineffectual junior solicitor, is sent by his boss, Mr Winthrop, to finalise a house sale, little does he realise that the next hours will be the turning point of his and the house’s occupant’s lives for good. The leaseholder, a hardware tycoon Roland Crabbe, wants to purchase the house and freehold from a dodgy builder and owner, Bainbridge. Roland’s wife of three months, Elizabeth, was a professional dancer and has decided to leave him with the help of her boring brother, Mark and his shrinking violet fiancée, Kitty.

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The house is a rambling Victorian mansion, supposedly haunted, on three floors – but it’s played on one level, with the actors moving up and down imaginary stairs and avoiding each other most effectively – it took a while for me to get used to the layout but once grasped, it was hilarious to watch and enjoy.

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The part of Roland Crabbe was played with great style and verve by Chris Binns, who also directed – no mean feat. When Roland realises his wife is going to leave him, he consumes lots of alcohol and sleeping tablets – Chris played the drunken scenes very well, being dragged around the stage by Tristram and Bainbridge. Elizabeth, his wife trapped in a loveless marriage, was played equally well by Joan Kay. I just loved the scene where she decides to get into the marital bed and unbeknown to her, the bed is occupied by Tristram and not her husband! Tristram was played brilliantly by Dave Collins – his tongue-tied and nervy delivery was spot-on – the audience were really laughing at his antics! Bainbridge, played by Bernard Wilson, trying to be the genial developer, his characterisation was perfectly balanced – you would never trust this man – especially his nervous laugh – shades of Trigger in ‘Only Fools…….’ – much to be admired here. Kitty was played by Sue Bennett – she got the character perfectly – spending a lot of the play in a cupboard in the attic – hiding from the boring Mark – she desperately wants to leave him but just doesn’t have the courage. Until, that is, Tristram persuades her to go forth confidently – which she does, after spending an illicit few hours with him – honestly, for a quiet man, Tristram gets around a bit! Poor Mark, played with confidence by Dave Harris, just can’t seem to be any help at all, trying to sort out his sister and brother-in-law!

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These six actors gave solid and meaningful performances all the way through the play and I congratulate them on such strong performances – timing and clarity were excellent.

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Top marks must be given to the set design – very well-conceived – and perfectly reflected the house lay-out. The lighting design was effective – stage management were on the ball with so many cues, denoting which part of the house where the action was. The sound was unobtrusive, meaning every word of dialogue could be heard, when much of the action was not directed at the audience. Unsung heroes in props and wardrobe, plus all the backstage workers without whom the show would not go on did their jobs perfectly.

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A special mention once again to Chris Binns as Director – flawless work here.……and as to the ending – well, Kitty escapes the boring Mark, Elizabeth sticks with the obnoxious Roland, Bainbridge sell the house and dear Tristram returns to his solicitor’s office with a huge grin on his face!

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This excellent play was well received by an enthusiastic audience – from the programme notes, Ayckbourn himself lived in Adel in the 1960s – he would have loved this interpretation – well done to you all!

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Christine Castle

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NODA NE Regional Representative – District 9