The 39 Steps: an occasionally ingenious homage to Hitchcock
by Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
There are The Twelve Steps to aid anonymous alcoholics, compulsive overeaters and to end climate change. Now Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre (Roundabout Theatre Company) has The 39 Steps to help the chronically depressed by chasing the blues away. Tired of hearing about war? Tired of hearing about elections and recession? Follow the advice of Richard Hannay (superbly portrayed by Charles Edwards – the heroic, stalwart, handsome, so-into-himself pipe smoking, alleged fugitive on the run, searching out a ring of spies to save the Empire in The 39 Steps – and do something “pointless” – go to the theatre!
Based on the suspense film by Hitchcock in 1935 which was based on the book by John Buchan and adapted with a wry sense of absurd humor by Patrick Barlow which was based on an original concept by Simon Corble & Nobby Dimon and ultimately wittily directed like a tornado out of control by Maria Aitken, The 39 Steps is fun. It is sometimes hysterical. And occasionally ingenious. Not at all suspenseful. But that’s the point! It’s an all out satirical farce. Which sometimes works beautifully and sometimes becomes repetitive with one liners being tossed out faster than a speeding bullet – some hilarious - some groaners.
There are four excellent actors plus an arm or two that portray a multitude of odd characters with some very odd accents. Cliff Saunders and Arnie Burton share the burden of most of the physical comedy – and they are incredible. There are some of the quickest changes of characters within scenes done with hats and the aforementioned accents you’ll ever see. And if you blink, you might even miss them. As the femme fatale and romantic love interest Jennifer Ferrin is delightful. One of the best scenes has her handcuffed to our hero and trying to remove her soaking wet nylon stockings. Rather risqué old boy!
From London to the Scottish Mores and back to The Palladium, director Maria Aitken pulls out every bell and whistle and flashlight to make this show pack a wallop to your funny bone and pay tribute to Psycho, The Birds, Vertigo, a cameo by Hitchcock himself, and an ingenious chase right out of North by Northwest. This is the highlight of the evening. There is sight gag after sight gag. A missing finger. A back stabbing. And some very special effects which are unexpected and original. But I’m afraid after intermission the steam begins to run out and we grow a bit tired of the crazy antics of all these people and feel a bit winded. Set and costume design by Peter McKintosh, Lighting by Kevin Adams and Sound by Mic Pool add significantly to the tone and style of The 39 Steps. Funnily enough the incidental music which plays such a vital role and which is excellent goes uncredited.
For those of you who remember Your Show of Shows – The 39 Steps would have been a fantastic vehicle for Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Imogene Coca and Howie Morris. They represented the golden age of comedy on television. But their skits were short and never overstayed their welcome.
www.talkentertainment.com
01-28-08
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