By TR Robertson Photos by Ken Jacques
The farcical “The 39 Steps”, by Patrick Barlow, is currently on stage at The Scripps Ranch Theatre on the campus of Alliant International University. The fast-paced murder mystery comedy features four actors, with one playing one role, one playing three roles and two playing a multitude of roles. The play is a parody of the 1935 British spy thriller of the same name by Alred Hitchcock. Hitchcock’s movie is loosely based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan. The original parody was produced by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon in 1996 and rewritten as an adaptation in 2005. The play premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in England and opened in the United States in 2007 at Boston University. It would appear on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in 2008. “The 39 Steps” won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2007 and in 2008 won Tony Awards for Best Direction, Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design.
The play requires quick character changes for several of the actors as well as minor costume changes and accent changes. This is handled ably and perfectly by the two actors known as Clowns, Katelyn Slater and Chris Braden. Both were making their SRT debut. Playing the parody’s “straight man” is Marley Bauer as Richard Hannay, also making his SRT debut. Playing Annabella, Margaret, and Pamela is Melanie Mino, returning to SRT from previous performances.
The parody involves a murder, police chases, German spies and solving the mysterious 39 Steps, all to be accomplished by a somewhat bungling British gentleman thrown into the world of espionage. The play is directed by Phil Johnson, the Artistic Director and Founder of The Roustabouts Theatre. Assisting Johnson is Producer Ruth Russell, Stage Manager Jessamyn Foster, Assistant Stage Manager Alli Brown, Sound Designer Patrick J. Duffy, Scenic Designer and Set Dressing Yi-Chien Lee, Props Designer Justin Magallanes, Lighting Designer Michelle Miles, and Costume Designer Caprice Shirley. Sets were built by Paul Morgavo, John Owen, Neal Soderberg and Carson Barnhart with Heather Larsen and Barnhart painting the sets.
“The 39 Steps” will be on the SRT Stage Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm until November 19th. Tickets can be purchased by calling 858-395-0573 or go online to www.scrippsranchtheatre.com,
