14 – 18 May
John Buchan’s The 39 Steps was one of the first ‘Boys’ Own’ adventure stories. Published in 1915, it tells the story of how Richard Hannay, recently returned to England after years travelling overseas, becomes embroiled in a thrilling spy chase when a mysterious and enigmatic woman is murdered in his London flat and he is forced to go on the run as an innocent, but wanted, man. The story received further acclaim and popularity when Alfred Hitchcock successfully adapted it into his much-loved 1935 film, with numerous other adaptations in the ensuing decades before the story was reconfigured into this Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy by Patrick Barlow in 2005. At one point one of the longest-running shows in the West End, it is easy to see why the show’s popularity, along with that of the original tale, has endured.
In converting Buchan’s groundbreaking thriller into a comedy, the production uses a cast of just four. Tom Byrne presents a very convincing Hannay, bringing to the role a skilful and deft balance of comedy, romance and adventure alongside Safeena Ladha, who plays all three of the story’s female protagonists. They are joined by Eugene McCoy (Clown 1) and Maddie Rice (Clown 2) who, somehow, portray the remaining 135 characters, doing so with some scarcely believable and very hasty costume changes, a wide range of accents, and considerable amounts of enthusiasm and energy. It is breathless stuff at times. Much of the show’s humour comes from their zany antics, juxtaposed alongside and around the main plot.
Yet while the show is very funny in places, director Nicola Samer ensures there is enough dramatic tension as the story unfolds to keep us interested, and to make sure we actually care about Hannay and Pamela’s plight; this subtle balancing act is perhaps the show’s greatest strength. As Barlow himself suggests, “…if we don’t somehow really believe in the story, if we’re not genuinely rooting for the hero and the girl, it’s not gripping, it’s not even interesting. Then it’s just a 90-minute sketch.” At times, some of the comedy does feel a little drawn out, some of the Goes Wrong-style joke cards played one too many times, especially in the second act. Nonetheless, it is at once a joyfully silly spy yarn while successfully retaining enough of Buchan’s intrigue and suspense from the original tale, with lots of witty Hitchcock references thrown in for good measure too.
Praise must also go to Peter McKintosh for some very clever set and costume design. This is far from being a high-budget production, but instead succeeds through some highly creative set design and clever use of props, not least several portable window frames through which Hannay makes very amusing escapes. Every conceivable setting which the story presents, from London to Edinburgh and beyond, is cleverly and amusingly presented on stage through the use of a few chairs, some boxes, a couple of stepladders…..and plenty of imagination. Lighting is used highly effectively too, most notably in an hilarious shadow puppet show to suggest Hannay’s flight across the boggy Scottish moorlands pursued by biplanes and bungling bobbies. And it is all done at the most frantic and frenetic pace as the narrative barrels rumbustiously along.
The 39 Steps is a wonderful piece of fun which can be enjoyed on many levels, a laugh-out-loud spy romp that this evening’s opening night audience all seemed to enjoy.
★★★★☆ Tony Clarke, 15 May 2024
Photo credit: Mark Senior
