The 39 Steps

The State Theatre of South Australia’s production of The 39 Steps is back in Adelaide and is an absolute theatrical delight. Based on John Buchan’s 1915 spy novel and even more, on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 classic film thriller, this is thoroughly engaging and often hilarious 2-hour theatrical romp that never falters for a second.

Whilst knowledge of Hitchcock’s film enhances this theatrical experience it is not completely necessary. The basic plot runs as follows – Dashing and handsome Richard Hanney (Nathan Page) attends a London ‘Music Hall’ that features the extraordinary ‘Mr. Memory’ (Tim Overton). Whilst at the theatre Hanney meets the exotic spy Annabelle Schmidt (Anna Steen) who ends up murdered in Hanney’s apartment, with Hanney the innocent suspect. Thus begins a chase from London to Scotland and back again involving the uncovering of a pre-WWI spy-ring, led by seemingly respectable Professor Jordan (Charles Mayer), who becomes handcuffed to and falls in love with Pamela Edwards (Anna Steen). Then back to the London Music Hall for the climatic revelation of ‘What are The 39 Steps’?

Thrilling stuff. To compensate for the dubious levels of ‘plausibility’, this play and production is a theatrical parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1939 film thriller, written for and performed by just four actors. As the author Patrick Barlow states in the production program notes, the reason for this being the case is that he ‘loves to see actors challenged by the seeming impossible’. What makes this State Theatre of SA production so wonderful is experiencing how these four terrific South Australian actors – Nathan Page, Anna Steen, Tim Overton, Charles Mayer – rise to this challenge and triumph over it.

The actor inventiveness is matched and enhanced by Corey McMahon’s clever direction and Ailsa Paterson’s fabulous set and costume design. This is evident throughout the entire show, but one small highlight for me was watching the actors deal with a faulty suitcase that doubles as a fire in a room in which the handcuffed Hanney and Pamela have taken refuge; in a Scottish hotel run by the most eccentric Scots couple you may ever experience on a stage. Sheer brilliant theatrical hilarity.

I thoroughly recommend this wonderful production. It is suitable for all ages, and I particularly encourage parents to bring children, to introduce them to the special magic that is inherent in going to ‘the theatre’.

Tony Knight

Photographer: Kate Pardey