THEATRE REVIEW: The 39 Steps

<p>Based on the book by John Buchan and the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, The 39 Steps is a rip-roaring, comedic rush through the spy thriller genre of the 1930’s and 1940’s.</p> <p>by Paul Szabo | 4th April 2013</p> <p>★★★★</p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4590067306.jpg" width="460" height="345" alt="Charlotte Peters and Richard Ede" title="Charlotte Peters and Richard Ede"/></p> <p></p> <p>The play is an affectionate nod and a tongue (very firmly) in cheek homage to not just its source material, but to the genre as a whole, where a pencil moustache and a stiff upper lip are the order of the day. </p> <p></p> <p>Richard Hannay (played by Richard Ede) is an unflappable toff who is framed for the murder of a beautiful female spy and quickly becomes embroiled in a plot to smuggle a secret out of the country which could potentially have a devastating impact upon national security. Following the clues to Scotland, Hannay encounters a number of others who both help and hinder him in his quest to prove his innocence, get the girl and prevent the information falling into the wrong hands.</p> <p></p> <p>This very funny play was a pleasant surprise. The cast comprised of a total of four very talented actors, with Ede playing his part with just enough of a knowing wink to the audience to make it work and the remaining cast (Tony Bell, Gary Mackay and Charlotte Peters) expertly and hilariously splitting the other 129 characters in the play between them. The script was sharp in places, played in a completely straight laced manner and had some good one-liners. However, the play relied more heavily on its backbone of physical comedy which was undertaken with gusto and enthusiasm by the cast. Everything from a chase across the roof of a train to a night at the London Palladium were recreated amongst a rapidly transforming, yet simple, set and the cast of often larger than life characters were equally as quick changing. It was also noticeable that there was a total absence of swearing, innuendo, violence or insults which made a pleasant change and confirmed that back to basics, family friendly comedy can easily generate a number of genuine laughs. </p> <p></p> <p>Both the set and lighting design were reflective of the cinematic style of the old films, utilising billowing smoke, long shadows and low level lighting. The minimal props, theatrical techniques employed and the use of the stage showed how much thought had gone into the direction. The transformation of the actors from one character to another was often creatively undertaken to good comedic effect and the constant, often subtle, references to Hitchcock were more than welcome. </p> <p></p> <p>Given its ninety minute duration, the play moved along swiftly at a cracking pace and didn’t drag at any stage, meaning that the joke never really outstayed its welcome. You don’t have to be particularly knowledgeable about the genre to feel included in the jokes or to actually enjoy the show (which can sometimes be the case). In summary, there were The 39 Steps, 4 actors and 130 characters which added up to a thoroughly (and unexpectedly) enjoyable evening with a lot more laughs than I anticipated. If you are a particular fan of the less surreal Monty Python style character based comedy or if you enjoyed The Reduced Shakespeare Company, then you would most likely enjoy this too. </p> <p></p> <p>The 39 Steps is currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre before continuing on its national tour. See <a href="http://www.love39steps.com/">www.love39steps.com</a> for further details.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Related Stories:</p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/#/magazine/4574334751/Theatre-Review-Untold-Stories/5318857">Theatre Review: Untold Stories</a></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/#/magazine/4574334751/THEATRE-REVIEW-BalletBoyz-The-Talent-2013/5183824">Theatre Review: BalletBoyz</a></p> <p></p> <p> </p>