39 Steps Review
I love murder mysteries and tonight I was able to see The 39 Steps, a play I have wanted to see for a few years now.
The 39 Steps is advertised as a mixture of a Hitchcock masterpiece, a spy novel and Monty Python. Based on the classic book by John Buchan and from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, The 39 Steps is a comedic murder mystery. Adapted by Richard Barlow from the idea by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon as a Play performed by just four Actors, it is a two time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning play. This current production is presented by the Bob Hope Theatre Actors Company.
1935. London. A gentleman Richard Hannay lives a rather dull life. One night he decides to attend a West End Show. Here he meets Annabelle Schmidt, a woman who says she is a spy. Hannay accepts to hide her in his flat, but in the middle of the night she is murdered. Soon an organisation called The 39 Steps becomes involved. Who is she? Why did she take refuge with him? And who or what are the mysterious “39 Steps”?
Being framed for her murder, Hannay flees London for Scotland on a mission to find out the answers to these and other questions. Along the way he comes across an assortment of unusual and mysterious characters and is reluctantly accompanied by prim Pamela, who inadvertently finds herself handcuffed to Hannay. Will they save Britain?
Four actors play countless characters in this wonderfully inventive comedy about an ordinary man on an extraordinary entertaining adventure. Making their debut performances at the Bob Hope Theatre are: Howard Otley (Hannay), Charlotte Davey (Annabella) and Paul Newton (Clown). They are joined by Jackie Mitchell (Clown), fresh from the fabulous and superb sell out Cinderella. Each actor was able to project their voice which made it easy to follow the storyline. Newton and Mitchell were particularly great as the Clowns, going from one character to the next in a matter of seconds with a quick prop or costume change, a change of accent and conveying the idiosyncrasies of each character.
It is a tongue-in-cheek playful production where we laugh at the absurdity of the plot, the gags, clowning and physical theatre. For example, when Annabella dies she does not reveal the knife until she falls across Hannay, and instead of moving the body he wiggles out of the armchair, or when three characters are climbing out a window. The script does lose some originality in the second half especially as characters repeat their and other lines during the second- half.
A stripped back set with images projected on screen was effective. A number of basic props such as chairs, tables, doors, picture frames and boxes were used to take the action from London, a train journey to Scotland, an escape on the Forth Bridge and the finale in the London Pallidium. The actors set the stage which is all part of the comic aspect of the play though at times this seemed to slow the pace down. Other technical aspects such as sound effects, music and lighting were very simple. Be prepared for gunshots as there are at least four.
Directed by Paul Marshall, it marks his directorial return since Pygmalion in 2014.
Maggie Matthews is Stage Manager with set design by Alan Matthews, both from Theatre 62 in West Wickham.
Overall, a light-hearted enjoyable evening.
The 39 Steps rubs from 7th to 10th March 2018. Doors open 19:15 with performances beginning 19:45. Tickets are £12 with concession rates available.
Website: www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk
Address:
Bob Hope Theatre
Wythfield Road
Eltham London
SE9 5TG
Written by Caitlin Neal
