Based on the 1935 Hitchcock spy thriller movie and novel by John Buchan, the stage production is currently the longest-running comedy in the West End and winner of major theatrical prizes from Tony Awards to the Olivier and Helpmann Awards.
And it's easy to see why. The 39 Steps is easy to digest, fast-paced and features over a hundred characters played by four actors.
The Patrick Barlow adaption wins on the unusual combination of a solid Hitchcock plot delivered with very British humour (invoking 'Allo 'Allo, Tommy Cooper (the dud British magician), American Mel Brooks (To Be Or Not To Be), perhaps a little L.A. Confidential, and for me, more than a soupcon of Little Britain.
This is a brilliant script — more than capably handled by Mike Smith (innocent-on-the-run Richard Hannay — whom we interviewed last month), Anna Burgess (love interest and three other parts), Sam Haft and Michael Lindner (men one and two), who have been touring Australia for the past 12 months. with this production.
All four deserve plaudits — all bring humour and style to their characters (and overt, B-grade noir acting! — therein lies the skill) in a plot that rockets along. My stand-outs were Haft and Lindner for their treatment of the quantity of their roles — 70 between them. The real-time, in-scene role changes were treated with skill and deftness even if in the guise of tawdry, ham-fistedness. Two of Lindner's in particular were a scream.
Clever props. Dramatic and creative lighting. Big laughs.
Four stars
'The 39 Steps' will be performing at the Twelfth Night Theatre from the 21st to the 26th October, then the Gold Coast and regional Queensland.
