This quick-fire rattle
through Buchan's novel is all the stronger for its comic take, its pacey style
and a light touch to tickle the funny bone. It is a smart take on a famous story
which thankfully doesn't suffer from its own cleverness.
Playing with a cast of
four, Tony Bell and Gary Mackay support the romantic leads of Richard Ede (as
hero Hannay) and Charlotte Peters.
Charlotte Peters
smoulders as the femme fatale in each scene, despite her occasionally downbeat
or eccentric characters. And a word for the dashing Ede. With his pencil
moustache, tweed suit and upper-crust manner, it's hard to believe anyone would
mistake him for a murderer...
Charlotte's first role as
Annabella Schmidt leaves her murdered by a rubber knife in the opening minutes,
leading to Richard Hannay's adventures north of the border to solve the secret
agent's riddle.
It is here that
Bell and Mackay come into their own, veering happily between a Stanley Baxter
approach and the old character actor skills of the likes of John Laurie. So
versatile are they that more than once they each play two characters at the same
time.
The concept throughout is
simple: tell the story, turn the highlights into wonderful cameos – and have fun
while you're at it.
The 39 Steps – given
cinematic treatment by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935 – was first produced on stage in
1996 and this format has been so successful that it's been doing the rounds for
more than eight years.
Simple but effective use
of doors, window frames, smoke and ladders all make the action grippingly real
while reminding us that every boys' own hero while ever-dashing must use his
charm, guile and wit to win the day.
Memorable action such as
the Forth Bridge rail scene and Hannay's impromptu address at the Scottish
election meeting are all wonderfully replicated here, with clever direction and
acting never leaving a smile very far away.
Another strength is the
length of this play. It's only 90 minutes of action and this means the concept,
as well as the players and their cod-Scottish/faux upper-class English accents,
don't outstay their welcome. The action moves easily from Mr Memory at the
Palladium to a lonely Scottish moor and we're willing to embrace the swings in
tone thanks largely to the cast, entertaining from start to
finish.
The 39 Steps plays all
week – and if you get along, watch out for subtle nods to other Hitchcock
classics along the way.
