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Step in Time, Highcliffe Charity Players, St Mark’s Hall, Highcliffe.

ON the premise, I assume, that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, HCP’s annual summer revue evening was as enjoyable and familiar as ever.

First-time directors Michele Moulin-White and Jo Mansfield did themselves and the Players proud with a great blend of show music and dance interspersed with sketches. Personally I’d have preferred to see fewer but longer sketches, as some were so short that they hardly seemed worth the effort – although I’m still chuckling at some of the funnier ones.

There is so much all-round talent in the company, and the show sections, including Barnum, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago, Ragtime, Les Miserables, Victor Victoria, The Producers, Mary Poppins and Spamalot, were a superbly costumed treat with some great singing and choreography.

Everything was well thought-out, from the show itself and the ‘way we were’ cast photos around the room to the table decorations and excellent mid-show supper.  Perhaps a few less scene-shifting pauses between items, especially during the sketches, would have made the evening flow that much more smoothly, but that was my only real criticism of a show that proves why this group has such a high reputation within the local theatre scene.

There are a few returns left for Saturday’s performance, so why not go see for yourself.

Linda Kirkman

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