Tango Femme.

Walk through the history-ridden doors of La Mama Courthouse's theatre and find yourself in the Golden Apple dance studio as the dancers warm up.

Straight away you'll be immersed in the lives of Gertrude, Bel, Helen, Scarlet and Val. At first, you'll struggle to tell your left foot from your right. But like learning to tango, the disorientation is momentary and the reward satisfying.

The women want to compete in a competition that's four months away. But it looks like they may not succeed until the ungainly Lannie (Ruth Katerelos) stumbles into the studio.

She becomes a new student sparking new conflict and challenging the plateau of old ones. All the students want to dance with Helen (Rhyannon Grace) at the competition because it will make them stand out. So when Helen asks Lannie to choose her partner, everyone seeks her favor.

Many times in ensemble pieces, some characters get sidelined or stuck in the stereotype mold, but with Merrillee Moss's writing each character is given the space to become individuals. But the need-tissues moment comes when Val (Niki Pidd) and Scarlett (Flame Acacia Kimbell) resolve their red-hot conflict.

Masterful and flawless.

Daniel G Taylor