First there was the book, a spy thriller by John Buchan. Next came the silver screen treatment, courtesy of Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Then the stage adaptation by Patrick Barlow, heralding nine years on the West End as well as a stint on Broadway. Now this espionage-nail-biter-turned-side-splitting-rollercoaster returns for a UK tour and Source was fortunate enough to catch it during its visit to the Theatre Royal Brighton…
After a mysterious encounter at the theatre one evening, Richard Hannay’s life is turned upside down as he finds himself framed for a murder he didn’t commit and on the run from the police whilst on the trail for whoever is behind this nefarious plot he has so suddenly found himself embroiled within. But can he clear his name before the authorities catch up with him? And who are the shadowy figures also tailing him across the country? And what… are the 39 Steps?
Given the unprecedented rise of Mischief Theatre in recent years, farce in the shape of the “Goes Wrong” variety is thriving within contemporary British theatre. But it would be easy to forget that the original run of Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps (which opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2005) preceded the formation of Mischief Theatre show by three years. Parallels will be drawn and some jokes are certainly shared but mimicry is, as they say, the best form of flattery and each has their deserved place within the farcical canon. Here we are treated to the “Goes Right” variety and the skill on display at tonight’s performance is tantalisingly good.
The jokes (and there are plenty of them) land thick and fast, an impressive array of visual gags, slapstick, puns and witticisms. Hannay’s escape across the country is brought to life in hilarious and ingenious detail with scenes devised, delivered and discarded with an imagination often sadly lacking elsewhere in contemporary theatre. A citywide manhunt is brought to life through the clever use of whistles and torches. An airplane chase sequence is built out of shadow puppets. And we had the privilege of meeting the sassiest bogland heath yet to be depicted on stage. It’s small theatre on a big scale and it’s something the audience revels in.
At apt moments director Maria Aitken allows the action to spill into the metatheatrical with the performers seemingly bickering amongst themselves or attempting to one-up each other. Elsewhere we are treated to moments of audience interaction meriting joyous heckles on topical matters such as elections and the football which only serves the notion that the evening is one big, riotous joke which we are very much allowed in on.
Throughout it all, however, is a true crime caper. A spy story filled with deception and duplicity where the stakes could not be higher. It is a genre ripe for parody and pastiche and this production delivers it with a spring in its step and a twinkle in its eye. Tom Byrne and Safeena Ladha, at the centre of the action, are superb, guiding the narrative and never putting a foot out of step. They are joined onstage by Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice as Clowns 1 & 2 respectively. Theirs is the task of bringing to life all other characters involved in this calamitous caper which they accomplish with virtuoso performances and an energy that ripples out into the auditorium.
It goes without saying that The 39 Steps is a fantastic evening’s entertainment. Brought to life by a four-strong ensemble, helmed by some astute direction, the production had all ages laughing throughout. But in acknowledging the tropes of its predecessors, the poking fun is only ever out of love of its source material. Good-natured in its approach and hilarious in its execution. And, like all good spy stories, it comes with a nice little twist at the end!
Theatre Royal Brighton, Tuesday 17th July 2024
For tickets and further information click here
Photo by Mark Senior
