The opening night of HAT Productions' maiden show was undeniably a resounding success, confirmed by the audience’s riotous final applause.

The show – based on the film starring Liza Minnelli and the Richard Harris play – follows one man and eleven women learning to tap dance at weekly lessons. Their personal and domestic problems slowly filter into the rehearsals, as a charity show in which they are to perform moves ever closer.

The show’s primary triumph lay in its succinct balance of comic turns with nuanced sentimentality. Building through the play, one-liners had the audience at times in hysterics.

The humour was spear-headed by the dynamic interaction between Slyvia (Clare Meadley) and Maxine (Alexa Chaplin).

Their duets in the wine-bar – especially enhanced by the presence of Rose (Becky Jones) – showed them to find revelry in their lives, despite whatever may be under the surface.

Yet, such rapture was poised against the more poignant moments of the play. Stephen Tearle played the part of Geoffrey, a meek and humble widower, superbly.

The role seemed burdened by the weariness of life, but ignited again by the presence of Andy (Sarah Brown). Their fluid and touching duet was one of the particular highlights.

Tearle’s gentle and awkward persona was quickly shaken off for the final dance number, and he looked at home in his tap shoes, and quite the dancer.

These final dances showed the ensemble to be working in true harmony, and was a far-cry from the ill at ease and stilted rehearsals that function as the foundation for the play.

The roles of Vera (Susan Blenkiron) and Mrs Frazer (Diana Morgan), however, could benefit from slight refinement. It is apparent that both roles are by virtue exaggerated in nature, but Blenkiron’s performance exceeded this and became grating and almost uncomfortable to watch at times.

Morgan did provide some humorous quips, but she at times diminished the moving moments of the play with the over-inflated role.

True praise must also be bestowed upon the band, and on musical director Mike Thompson. For the whole night they were tight yet lyrical, and exhibited some truly virtuosic playing.

The sets by Robert Readman and costumes by director John Hall were also without fault. The rehearsal room was a fantastic backdrop, with the change to the bar-scenes neat and highly effective. Likewise, the multiplicity of hats was a comic masterstroke.

Hall's beautifully balanced production is definitely worth the visit, and for a show that relies so much on the collective ensemble, the cast perform and cooperate together, stepping on the stones of success.

- Edward Grande

Stepping Out, HAT Productions, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, tonight and tomorrow, 7.30pm; Saturday, 2.30pm, 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 623568, yorktheatreroyal.co.uk, or on the door.