Hitchcock’s taught thriller is transformed into a theatrical farce in this gloriously silly comedy drama.
The action is fast and the gags just as speedy, as just four actors portray dozens of characters across two hours.
The story follows the dashing Richard Hannay, who gets caught up in a world of espionage after a impromptu visit to the theatre. From there follows murder, secret identities, hapless policemen, and much more, as he crosses the country to safeguard the nation.
While Hitchcock’s 1935 film is a taught thriller, Patrick Barlow’s adaptation very much plays things for laughs. There are glorious knowing nods to theatrical and cinematic convention, with the cast miming train rides, improvised cars, and our leads exchange swooning glances, saying they hate each other while being destined to end up in each other’s arms.
The core though are lots of great gags: verbal sparring and physical jokes, deliberately missed cues, and exaggerated actions. A charming shadow puppetry segment is packed with visual jokes, including one of many nods to Hitchcock dotted through the show.
Its hard work for Tom Byrne as Hannay, Safeena Ladha as the three leading ladies Annabella, Pamela, and Margaret, and especially for Maddie Rice and Jacob Daniels (standing in on opening night) as the two ‘clowns’. These two play everyone else in the story, from a milkman to a train guard, a Scottish tenant farmer to musical hall novelty act – at times literally swapping hats to talk to themselves as they switch roles.
They work their socks off and keep the audience entertained, with spot on comic timing and brilliant control.
Tour director Nicola Samer mostly keeps things tight, and together with designer Peter McKintosh brings in dozens of neat touches – from suitcases doubling as train seats or a hotel desk, to the revolving doors where every exit really is an entrance.
There’s not much opportunity nowadays for genuinely innocent fun but The 39 Steps oozes it. The show is packed with sparkling performances, plenty of wit, and has love of theatre that translates unpretentiously to a brilliant show. Go see it and guffaw the night away.
- The 39 Steps continues at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday, June 22, 2024.
