*The 39 Steps
What are the 39 steps? That is the mystery the play revolves around.
Basically, and without giving the entire plot away, the play is about Richard Hannay, a man bored with life who then gets entangled in preventing a government secret from falling into the wrong hands and destroying the country.
The play is a wonderful parody of the suspense spy drama. It has all the usual elements: a man wrongly accused of murder on the run while trying to save the country and prove his innocence, along with the romance of meeting a girl who at first doesn't trust him and tries to get him arrested. But the play takes these elements and has fun with them rather than being serious. The cast is four people, three of which constantly switching and playing dozens of characters. At points this is openly acknowledged by the others, making the changes hilarious and not just ridiculous. The minimal sets and scene changes brought together the film noir influence with the jocular tone as well. Towards the beginning, outside Hannay's window are two shady men in large coats under a lamppost-- something very common to a spy story. But the window is at the back of the stage, so to show both Hannay looking out the window and what he is looking at, the actors playing the two men carry in a lamppost and stand at the front of the stage each time Hannay peers out the curtains. This brings uproarious laughter as the men run back and forth with every quick look Hannay takes.
The story of the play comes from the 1935 movie by Alfred Hitchcock, which in turn was loosely based on a book of the same name. For a soundtrack to the play, they use parts of scores from Hitchcock's movies. As Hitchcock's work was mainly mystery and spy thrillers, the very thing the play spoofs, the music seems well suited. But again, it's turned to comedy. The familiar strings from Psycho are placed so that they bring laughter instead of fear.
To conclude, I loved it! I would recommend this play to any who enjoy a little mystery, murder, and a whole lot of mayhem.
Basically, and without giving the entire plot away, the play is about Richard Hannay, a man bored with life who then gets entangled in preventing a government secret from falling into the wrong hands and destroying the country.
The play is a wonderful parody of the suspense spy drama. It has all the usual elements: a man wrongly accused of murder on the run while trying to save the country and prove his innocence, along with the romance of meeting a girl who at first doesn't trust him and tries to get him arrested. But the play takes these elements and has fun with them rather than being serious. The cast is four people, three of which constantly switching and playing dozens of characters. At points this is openly acknowledged by the others, making the changes hilarious and not just ridiculous. The minimal sets and scene changes brought together the film noir influence with the jocular tone as well. Towards the beginning, outside Hannay's window are two shady men in large coats under a lamppost-- something very common to a spy story. But the window is at the back of the stage, so to show both Hannay looking out the window and what he is looking at, the actors playing the two men carry in a lamppost and stand at the front of the stage each time Hannay peers out the curtains. This brings uproarious laughter as the men run back and forth with every quick look Hannay takes.
The story of the play comes from the 1935 movie by Alfred Hitchcock, which in turn was loosely based on a book of the same name. For a soundtrack to the play, they use parts of scores from Hitchcock's movies. As Hitchcock's work was mainly mystery and spy thrillers, the very thing the play spoofs, the music seems well suited. But again, it's turned to comedy. The familiar strings from Psycho are placed so that they bring laughter instead of fear.
To conclude, I loved it! I would recommend this play to any who enjoy a little mystery, murder, and a whole lot of mayhem.
posted by ladyofdarkshadows | 2:53 AM
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