The 39 Steps

Drury Lane's The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the 1935 British spy thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is about Richard Hannay, who is looking to cure his tedium and goes to a theater where he unexpectedly meets a woman who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered; however, before her death, she tells him about a secret organization called "The 39 Steps." Partially narrated by Hannay, who goes to the theater to see Mr. Memory, a man with a unique ability to remember past or present events. He gets a surprise when Annabella Schmidt sits beside him and then causes a commotion, shooting a gun to escape with Hannay. Annabella convinces him to take her to his place. She divulges that she is a spy who has uncovered a plot called The 39 Steps by a notorious criminal mind which can only be identified by the missing top joint of one finger and needed the diversion to elude assassins. Hannay contemplates if she is a deranged lunatic, Annabella is murdered, and he is now on the lam, accused of killing her.  

I'm a huge fan of Hitchcock movies. "Vertigo," "Rear Window," "Psycho," Dial M For Murder, and the list goes on; however, I have to admit, I have never heard of The 39 Steps— so without any historical background or knowledge of this production, which has been called one of Hitchcock's classic adventure-comedy, I found the first half somewhat entertaining but primarily lethargically dull, and I wasn't the only one. Several people that were around us didn't return. But this production grew on me, and little by little, the outstanding cast of actors featuring Gavin Lee, Catlin Gallogly, Zuhdi Boueri, and Tom Detrinis, who were both hilarious mastering multiple roles, had me during the final act. I sometimes believe the issue with theater is counting on seasonal, dare I say, more elderly audiences to always enjoy classic productions, forgetting that the new generational audience may miss it. Whether it be suspenseful or comedy, a theatrical production should reach me and draw me into it—so it was refreshing to feel uneducated about this classic that won me over with its exceptionally talented cast.      

Act Two is where we newbies to this classic comedic masterpiece understand why it's considered one of Hitchcock's top movies. Now on a train to Alt-na-Shellach, Hanney is paired with Pamela (also played by Caitlin Gallogly) after running into her chamber and kissing her to evade the police. He shares the same story with her about a plot of espionage involving a spy ring hell-bent on stealing British military secrets. He tells her of his innocence and that the men after him aren't real policemen, but she informs them that the man with her is Richard Hannay, and they arrest him and detain her as a witness. Of course, the story ends with him being exonerated and getting the girl, but the moral of this story is that this sappy and goofy production was another reason I love Hitchcock. 

3 Stars *** 

Drury lane Theatre

The 39 Steps

Adapted by Patrick Barlow, From the Novel by John Buchan

From the movie by Alfred Hitchcock

Directed by Johanna McKenzie Miller

June 21 - August 13, 2023