The 39 Steps: Belgrade Theatre, Coventry: Till 19th April

Coventry

Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd and Tricycle London Productions Ltd in association with The West Yorkshire Playhouse present:

‘The 39 Steps’: John Buchan: Adapted by Patrick Barlow
Belgrade Theatre: Tkts 024 7655 3055
www.belgrade.co.uk
Runs: 1h, 55m: one interval: till 19th April
Start: 7.45
Review: Jan Pick
14.4.08

Not a stumble in sight!
This affectionate and hilarious spoof of the John Buchan classic, cleverly adapted by Patrick Barlow, draws on the Hitchcock film adaptation of the 1930s with its music hall twist, and mysterious female spy. It follows the adventures of Richard Hannay, the great British hero-type who inadvertently wanders into a dangerous and sinister spy plot that through courage and luck, he manages to foil. Here given an ingenious and exhilarating production that captivated the audience at the Belgrade on Monday night.

The inventive set designs, complemented by expert lighting and sound, take us on train journeys, chases over the moors, house parties and the famous dangling from the Forth Bridge scene, using an amazing array of theatrical techniques and styles including a beautiful shadow play and an appearance by Hitchcock himself - if only in silhouette!

David Michaels is an endearing hero, in the Bulldog Drummond mode, all tweeds and pipe, and stiff upper lip and Clare Swinburne not only makes a delightful heroine in the Madeleine Carroll mode, but also manages a deeply mysterious foreign spy and an innocent crofter’s wife, with great panache. But the real stars of the evening are Colin Mace and Alan Perrin who play a multitude of parts, both male and female, switching from one character to another with split second timing and great – and often very comic - ingenuity.

The mix of styles, which draws on physical theatre, mime, slapstick comedy and filmic effects, is smoothly handled by director David Newman and his creative team. This 39 Steps moves at a cracking pace without so much as a stumble, and arrives at an hilarious, and, at times, surprisingly moving, evening out.

Cast:
Man 2: Colin Mace
Richard Hannay: David Michaels
Man 1: Alan Perrin
Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret: Clare Swinburne

Director: Maria Aitken
Redirected: David Newman
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Lighting Designer: Ian Scott
Sound Designer: Mic Pool
Movement Director: Toby Sedgwick
Associate Set Designer: Marilyn Eardley
Movement Captain: James Topping
Production Manager: Digby Robinson
Costume Supervisor: Mary Charlton
Company Stage Manager: James D Ingram
DSM: Vicki Hall
Technical ASM: Richard Jeffrey
ASM/Book: Jess Banks
Wardrobe and Wigs Mistress: Jennifer Robertson

2008-04-29 20:06:52