THE 39 STEPS. To 21 June.
The 39 STEPS: Adapted by Patrick Barlow.
(Original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon).
Touring: Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.
Runs: 1 hour and 55 mins. 20 minute interval.
Tours: until 21 June (details on http://www.criterion-theatre.co.uk/current_show.html)
Review: Ranjit Khutan 25th February 2008 Grand Wolverhampton.
Tim Ramsden's review from Nottingham is also on the site.)
Intoxicating EnergyFour actors play over 150 characters and cover every scene in this fantastic new play adapted from the well known award winning film – albeit with a hilarious comic take.
Richard Hannay is a Canadian in 1930’s smog and smoke filled London, he’s at a theatre watching a performance of “Mr Memory”. He meets the mysterious Annabella Schmidt who returns with him to his flat. She warns him that she is a spy and that she is being followed by assassins - her life is in danger (insert gasp from audience). He quickly learns just how true this is, during the night she is stabbed in the back with a knife (insert further gasps from the audience). Before she dies she utters the words “The 39 Steps” – but explains little more. What ensues is a fast paced mad cap journey by Hannay in which he meets various characters as he is chased by the police who now have him in their sights as the prime murder suspect.
The energy displayed by these four superb actors is intoxicating. Alan Perrin & Colin Mace are brilliant in the many roles they employ, watching them seamlessly and energetically move from one character to the next (and in some scenes – back again) will make your head spin. They clearly enjoy the slapstick comedy, cross dressing and the purposeful errors showing off their multitude of talents with sublime ease. As do our hero and heroine - David Michaels’ Hannay and the Clare Swinburne’s Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret. They have less character changes to contend with, but move from each scene with exquisite skill and capability.
The set isn’t spectacular and scenes are created through the use of minimal props and lighting. For those who are less used to this abstract / surreal style, the actors’ skills will confidently encourage you to use your imagination to its fullest. Squeezing so many scenes (& character changes) into a relatively short play seems impossible, but this has been successfully managed through Newman’s skilful re-direction and the actors’ management of these on stage. This clever staging allows movement from one scene to the next to be carried out with ease and fluidity.
A wonderful play, well written, beautifully sequenced and superbly acted. It’s no surprise to see why this was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2007.
Man 2: Colin Mace
Richard Hannay: David Michaels
Man 1: Alan Perrin
Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret: Clare Swinburne
Director: Maria Aitken
Redirected by: David Newman
Designer: Peter McKintosh
Lighting Designer: Ian Scott
Sound Designer: Mic Pool
Movement Director: Toby Sedgwick
Associate set designer: Tim McQuillen-Wright.
2008-03-03 09:19:26