Monday, July 15

The 39 Steps, Theatre Royal

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.

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Nottingham is full of fun, according to the traditional football chant. It's full of a few other things, too, so while I welcome comments, don't bother adding anything that won't get published...