Adapted by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon
Directed by Terence O'Connell
Christine Harris & HIT Productions
Q Theatre, Queanbeyan, 8 - 12 October 2013
Review by Len Power
Everyone
enjoys an adventure yarn with a handsome, still upper lip hero, beautiful woman
and dangerous crooks and John Buchan’s, ‘The 39 Steps’, is an exciting 1915
novel with all of those elements. Film
director, Alfred Hitchcock, thought so too and made a classic movie of the
novel in 1935. Jump to 2005 and a stage
production, based on the movie, opened in London’s West End where it has been
running ever since. Now it’s
Queanbeyan’s turn to see this fun show.
Adapted
by Patrick Barlow from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon,
‘The 39 Steps’ becomes a smart, witty theatrical vehicle for four actors
playing a multitude of characters using various mundane items scattered about
the stage to represent important items in the story. For example, step ladders become the Firth Of
Forth Bridge and a couple of steamer trunks and appropriate lighting represent
a railway compartment.
Originally
from Queanbeyan, Mike Smith plays the dashing hero, Richard Hannay, with great
appeal and a good sense of timing. Anna
Burgess plays three different women and her characterisations are sharply defined,
well-played and very funny. Sam Haft and
Michael Lindner play a bewildering number of characters, both male and female,
as the play progresses and they are hilarious.
They must be exhausted by the end of each performance.
Costumes
designed by Kim Bishop were in period and had a sense of fun about them,
especially the costumes and accessories and wigs worn by the men who were
playing female characters at times.
Lighting designer, Jason Bovaird, and sound designer, Nicholas J Reich,
have done a fine job creating the right atmosphere. The various elements of the set designed by
Jacob Battista were well chosen but on the Q Theatre’s large stage the overall
effect was one of sparseness. It
probably works better in a more intimate theatre.
This
touring production, directed by Terence O’Connell is a fun entertainment,
engaging the audience’s imagination throughout the play. There seemed more reliance on character and
plot in this production and less on the use of props. This kind of crazy entertainment needs to be
fast and frenetic but in this production the pacing at times was a bit too
deliberate. Still, it’s a fun show that
should appeal to audiences of all ages and it’s not surprising that it’s become
London’s longest-running comedy ever.
Originally broadcast
on Artsound FM 92.7 ‘Dress Circle’ program on Sunday 13 October 2013.