Keeping you on your toes (From Gazette & Herald)

Keeping you on your toes

YOU'LL need to be on your toes if you want to catch Ryedale Youth Theatre's latest production.

For the show - a staging of a Rodgers & Hart musical - is just a week away from its opening night.

The show, On Your Toes, opens next Wednesday, April 14, and continues at the Milton Rooms venue in Malton until Saturday, April 17.

On Your Toes is a Broadway musical comedy which was inspired by the ballet, and will be Ryedale Youth Theatre's 13th annual Easter production.

But 13 proved to be an unlucky number for one member of the cast. Lauren Hood, who plays one of the lead roles as Frankie Frayne, broke her ankle in the build-up to the show. Lauren, 16, studies dance and acting at York College, and fractured her ankle three weeks ago in rehearsals for a college show. Lauren, a well-known performer in the area, is still hoping that she will be ready for curtain-up, though, if the doctors give the all-clear in time. Gemma Kirk is on stand-by to step into the breach if needed.

On Your Toes remains notable for its originality, mostly because it signalled a major breakthrough in form by using ballet as an integral part of the story. It may be a feast for dance fans but, for true musical theatre lovers, this production promises to be a real treat.

A big, breezy, bouncing musical with a wonderful score featuring classic songs such as It's Got To Be Love and Glad to Be Unhappy, On Your Toes follows the story of a secret ex-vaudeville dancer turned music teacher who gets mixed up with the Russian Ballet.

The show first appeared in the West End in 1937 and was London's hot ticket last summer when Britain's leading classical male ballet dancer, Adam Cooper, known to many as the grown-up Billy Elliot, took the lead role of Junior. Ben Senior, 17, steps into the role for Ryedale Youth Theatre - a part which calls for a performer who can dance in jazz, tap and ballet style, as well as being able to sing and act.

Angela Kirkham-Raine, artistic director of Ryedale Youth Theatre, said: "Having watched the professional production of On Your Toes, I was convinced that we could successfully pull it off, as it provides a potential showcase for the diverse talents of our young people.

"Most musical theatre societies would find it difficult to do so because, for this choreographically heavy show, you have to have excellent ballet, jazz and tap dancers and we are so lucky to have such amazingly versatile and talented young dancers within Ryedale Youth Theatre, who can also sing and act."

Cast members looking for a little inspiration can turn to the exploits of one former Ryedale Youth Theatre member. Pippa Raine, the eldest daughter of Angela Kirkham-Raine and John Raine, will be appearing in a production of On Your Toes in Japan. Pippa, who trained at Kirkham Henry School of Performing Arts in Malton and at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, will be part of the tour of the successful London production of the show.

The Ryedale show runs nightly at 7.15pm from next Wednesday until Saturday, April 17, with two matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 2pm. Tickets are available from the tourist information centre in Malton market place on (01653) 600048 and cost £6 for adults or £5 for concessions.

Updated: 11:28 Wednesday, April 07, 2004