Hitchcock meets hilarious mayhem in a Brisbane Arts Theatre production of 'The 39 Steps'.
Seven actors play over 100 characters in this play written by Patrick Barlow, based on the Hitchcock directed film of the same name. Director Greg Scurr says that this is a performance that has “something for everyone; it’s a classic spy story, a romance, a farce, and there’s even a sing-a-long”.
The movie was originally loosely based on the – this year – 100-year-old book by John Buchan, 'The 39 Steps' is a story of a man on the run from people who believe he is something that he is not. Encountering a number of interesting characters, we will see him unravel a McGuffin, and fall in love.
Winner of Tony, Olivier and Drama Desk awards, 'The 39 Steps' has been performed one of the longest runs in London’s West End history. A fast, frothy exercise in theatre, this is a play that will no doubt engage and delight audiences.In Brisbane Arts Theatre's adaption, Jonathon Devitt plays the handsome leading man, “I think the main thing that drew me to doing this play was the cast that was involved and the Director Greg Scurr – I enjoy his work. I was quite interested to be directed by Greg.”
Taking inspiration from Robert Donat’s portrayal in the original film, Devitt says that this performance is “more comedically geared” and that he “took aspects of him [Donat] and … fit it in to the funnier play. So I try and use little speech patterns that he uses.” However Devitt says that he updated the character to “make him more up tempo”.
'The 39 Steps' being set in 1935 was another delight for Devitt: “I watched a lot of those older movies when I was a kid. And studied a lot of those old actors like Robert Donat, John Barrymore.”
Greg Scurr makes note that “It's also interesting that the play is set in 1935, the year before the Arts Theatre was founded. This reminds me just how old our company is and the history it has gone through.”
Both Scurr and Devitt say that their favourite character is McGarrigle performed by Tanya McCall. She is the stand-out, must-watch-to-see character of 'The 39 Steps'; a Scottish highlands innkeeper who is guaranteed to get the audience laughing.
Scurr notes a favourite scene in the play as one “where two of our actors become a little carried away playing multiple characters, it takes our leading man to get them back on track.
“A number of years ago I saw a theatrical adaptation of the film 'Brief Encounter' which I absolutely loved, since then I've been really interested in the idea of bringing a film to the stage. In 'The 39 Steps' I not only get to work with a significant film of the 20th century, but also what is quickly becoming one of the significant plays of the 21st Century. I'm a big Hitchcock fan, so working with this material is a real treat! I've also been fortunate enough to see it in the West End twice where it has been a huge success, so I have an understanding of the importance it has in current theatre culture. Of course I've also really enjoyed putting my own touches to the play as I believe it's important to not just replicate current and previous productions, which many people would have already seen,” Scurr says.
Dotted with Hitchcockian references, and over 100 characters, 'The 39 Steps' is sure to be an enjoyable romp!
'The 39 Steps' plays Brisbane Arts Theatre, 2 May - 20 June.
