Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Matthew Goode, Janet Montgomery, Angel Coulby, Jacqueline Bisset, Joanna Vanderham, Anthony Head, Jenna-Louise Coleman, John Goodman, Mel Smith, Allan Corduner, Mike Brett, Oroh Angiama, Jane Asher, Jamie Crew, Trevor Edwards, Austin Hardiman, Tom Hughes, Cosimo Keita, Neville Malcolm, Wunmi Mosaku, Jay Phelps, Caroline Quentin, Miles Richardson, Chris Storr, Steve Williamson.

Just exactly what is Louis Lester on the run from? A tantalising question that the makers of Dancing on the Edge are drawing out in spectacular style and in which shows no sign of answer…just yet!

The band is on edge as it waits nervously on news on their lead singer, the Germans who came for Christmas dinner are descending into their own private hell into which they will soon invite everyone and all is not going the way Stanley Mitchell envisaged his music paper to be going, all it seems is not well in the world of 1930s jazz.

There are lighter moments to be had within this excellent drama from the B.B.C. as Mel smith as the hotel manager proudly says to “F**k ‘em” as the German party walks out of the dinner in disgust and the subsequent payback by Stanley and Louis as they put on a show in the German embassy but overall the tone of the episode is one of bleakness, superbly acted, especially in the calm reassured bedside manner in which Anthony Head’s man about town recounts the day when Angel Coulby’s Jessie sang alongside Prince George. This flicker of emotion and memory was not to last but showed why Anthony Head has kept working for so long. Calm reassurance when under pressure is not to be let go of easily.

What has become apparent is the beat to which certain people are moving towards, especially the four main protagonists, the self-assured Louis Lester and Sarah, portrayed by the superb Janet Montgomery, the slow number, tempting gradually and building up to a crescendo and the hurried live by night and fly attitude of Stanley Mitchell, portrayed by the excellent Matthew Goode and Joanna Vanderham’s society girl Pamela. Both couple suit the dance they undertaking but just exactly is taking the lead.

The disintegration of the band is gathering pace; Stanley Mitchell is becoming more agitated as he finds his position undermined and all around them the seeds of intolerance is growing incredibly loud. There is always the jazz though to keep the beat moving along.

Dancing on the Edge continues next Monday on B.B.C. 2.

Ian D. Hall