The 39 Steps

My thoughts on The 39 Steps or…Hitchcock made hilarious.

All the elements of a Hitchcock thriller are here in Patrick Barlow’s stage version of the 1935 film which was based on a 1915 novel by John Buchan. There’s the innocent man accused of murder, a relentless pursual, disguises, a cryptic message, and even a Hitchcock blonde.

Barlow adds the element of comedy and Director Ashley Puckett Gonzales takes that comedy and runs with it all over pre-WWII England and Scotland employing clever staging and actors whose physical and verbal comedy skills are first class.

There’s no set here per se. Designer Josh Hensley, who also designed the excellent lighting, sets everything in front of a scrim/curtain that often changes color and is used on at least one occasion for a projection. Scenes change by furniture and props being moved around the stage, and special “props” to Elise Knox for her prop design. There are wonderful 30’s era costumes from Michael Robinson and Dallas Costume Shoppe and Andi Allen’s sound design keeps all the action audible.

DR Hanson is the dashing upper-class Englishman Richard Hannay, framed for the murder of Anabella Schmidt, a mysterious young woman he meets at a West End show. One of the running jokes is how attractive Richard Hannay is as we are told many times of his wavy hair and pencil thin moustache. Hanson is masterful at preening as Hannay’s attributes are extolled. Hanson also has a wonderful accent and maintains his proper British upbringing no matter if he’s trudging through the moors or hanging from a train trestle. It’s Hanson’s “control” as Hannay that adds much to the evening’s comedy.

The versatile Rebecca Litsey is three people in one in The 39 Steps. She’s the heavily accented Annabella Schmidt whose demise begins the adventure, Margaret, a Scottish farmwife married to an older man but very attracted to Hannay, and the spirited, determined Pamela, who is caught up in Hannay’s turmoil and initially believes him to be the killer. Litsey plays all three marvelously but really succeeds as the “Hitchcockesque” leading lady with a growing attraction for Hannay. Hanson and Litsey play off each other like a seasoned comedy team.

But it is Jake Lawrence Geary as Clown 1 and Cody Alexander Tabor as Clown 2 who receive the lion’s share of laughs in The 39 Steps. These two superlative comic actors play countless roles throughout the play. They change genders, ages, and accents constantly. From music hall performers, to police, to spies, to innkeepers, and many more characters, these two amazing gentlemen will leave you breathless from laughter. Tabor excels especially at the physical comedy and Geary inhabits his characters with such ease and skill that he reminded me of a young Robin Williams. Bravo sirs!

Director Gonzales breaks with the tradition of only using four actors in the play and wisely uses her understudies Logan Garconnier, Lilly McCullough. and Dahlia Parks in the action of the play. They make an impressive and often witty addition.

Theatre Frisco’s The 39 Steps is nonstop evening of fun deftly directed by Gonzales. It's like those great screwball comedy films of the 30’s and 40’s. You never know exactly where you’re going or who is going to pop up, but you’ll be glad you took the steps to get to Theatre Frisco.

Photos by Alex Rain