Little Lark of London

“We’ll have quite a show of it!”

The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitke, is unique in that it is an adaptation of an adaptation, putting a new spin on the iconic Alfred Hitchcock film in 1935 of the same name, which itself was inspired by John Buchan’s 1915 book. While both the works of Buchan and Hitchcock have a darker and more mysterious tone, The 39 Steps play, originally conceived by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon, is more of a satirical parody, lovingly poking fun at the genre it was inspired by. The play, originally staged in the 90s, was then adapted in the 2000s by Patrick Barlow, keeping it fresh for a new generation of audiences. 

From the very first scene, I was already impressed with the technical team behind the show. We begin with a scene lit by strobe lighting (Lighting Design by Ian Scott), imitating an old-fashioned film like the very one the play is based on. We are introduced to our hero, Richard Hannay (Tom Byrne), who has lost all motivation and decides to go see a West End show in the hopes that it will lift his spirits. Instead, he gets pulled into an adventure by Annabella [Safeena Ladha], a mysterious woman with an overdramatic German accent who is soon murdered in his home. Hannay must flee London and go to Scotland in an attempt to discover what the “39 Steps” are, and thus our story really begins. 

Byrne and Ladha do a fantastic job as the two leads – or, in Ladha’s case, three leads, as she plays all three of the main female characters throughout the show. They are joined by Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice, or Clown 1 and Clown 2, respectively, who make up the entirety of the rest of the cast, playing over one hundred characters within the show’s runtime. There is an incredible scene performed by Rice alone as she switches between two characters, keeping a jacket on one half of her body and physically switching around to carry on the conversation. 

A huge amount of credit music be given to the creative team behind the show. Set and Costume Designer Peter McKintosh has created a world that is simple yet gives the audience all the information they need, with some scenes simply using one door and moving it around to represent moving through different parts of the same building. The outfits worn by the clowns are impressive as they must be simple and easy to change into yet still represent the characters, which is typically done with hats and other obvious accessories. As mentioned before, from the first moments, Scott has a masterful hold on the lighting, using it to maximum effect throughout the show. I particularly loved when the house lights were brought on as Hannay is forced to give a speech at a political rally as a result of mistaken identity, with the audience of the show becoming the audience of the rally itself. 

One of the best aspects of The 39 Steps is how it really leans into the fact that it is a parody, allowing it to really go for the overdramatic moments and ham it up for the audience. There are also several Hitchcock references throughout the show, including a clever little cameo from the man himself! There are plenty of classic tropes throughout the show that make it easy to guess where it is going, though knowing what is going to happen actually makes it more fun as you can see exactly how the characters get into their particular predicaments in hilarious ways. The physical comedy is a highlight, particularly from McCoy and Rice as the clowns. The Movement Direction by Toby Sedwick is essential in keeping the show running, especially when the two clowns are quickly switching between characters and need to be in step while also moving around set pieces! I particularly loved the overdramatic fight scenes taking place in the theatre. 

Ultimately, The 39 Steps is a silly and loving satirical adaptation of Hitchcock’s classic film, turning the mystery genre on its head with slapstick and clever comedy. I would highly recommend it for people of all ages, whether you’re familiar with Hitchcock’s work or not, as the show is able to stand on its own in a fantastic way.

The 39 Steps ran from 2 to 6 April at the Richmond Theatre before going on tour. Tickets for the rest of the tour can be purchased here.