John Buchan’s classic early 20th-century spy thriller gets a comedic makeover in this fast-paced whirlwind of a play. Very loosely based on the classic 1935 Alfred Hitchcock adaption of Buchan’s novel, The 39 Steps tells the story of British gentleman Richard Hannay, whose boring London life implodes when he meets a mysterious foreign lady – who is subsequently murdered at his flat after revealing that she is caught up in an international intrigue involving the sinister 39 Steps.
Accused of the murder, Hannay embarks on a quest to discover the truth – reluctantly accompanied on an odyssey across Scotland by Pamela, a woman he met on the train whilst fleeing the police.
Patrick Barlow’s production is a frenetic, zany tour de force which makes a virtue of its minimal cast. Four actors play 139 characters – often simultaneously! – with incredible energy and joyful silliness, often bordering on farce. The minimal props allow for incredibly creative physical theatre, highlights of which include the train trip to Scotland, the biplane crash, the crossing of the Forth Bridge and the trek across the boggy moors in the Highlands.
There is much climbing in and out of windows, and lightning-fast costume and accent changes. Impeccable comedy timing and ingenious effects create a thrilling, madcap reimagination of Hitchcock’s movie, which despite the limited cast and props manages to keep to the original story.
Said cast rise to the challenge admirably, too. Tom Byrne plays Hannay with just the right amount of bumbling and awkwardness, and leading lady Safeena Ladha plays all three female protagonists whilst making each role distinct (the cod-German accent of Annabella Schmidt is a particular triumph). However, the character acting of clown duo Maddie Rice and Eugene McCoy provides the majority of the laugh-out-loud moments: tackling the remaining 135 roles via crossdressing, increasingly daft accents and bizarre split costumes, they’re a wonderfully entertaining pair.
The cast absolutely nail The 39 Steps; this high-energy romp of a spy mystery will leave you satisfied – and somewhat exhausted.
The 39 Steps, New Theatre, Cardiff , Tue 23 Apr
On until Sat 27 Apr. Tickets: £24-£40. Info: here
words SARAH EDWARDS