Theatre Review: "The 39 Steps" at the Depot Theatre

A hilarious production of the comedy and mystery "The 39 Steps" has opened at the Depot Theatre. Based on the 1915 spy thriller by John Buchan and the 1935 Hitchcock film, this stage spoof adapted by Patrick Barlow retains the spy plot. The comedy ensues partly because only four actors play all the characters--approximately 100 of them. This leads to some very funny lightning-fast character and costume changes. There are even a few instances when an actor plays two different characters in the same scene.

You'll probably get tired of hearing the words "creative" and "funny," but those are the right ones for this production, including Tim Palkovic's set. The play opens with only a plain back wall with a few posters, four ornate footlights, raised theatre boxes downstage left and right and a single work light. Suddenly there's a rolling window complete with shade, revolving doorways, and wooden boxes that become a train or a car--even an airplane. It's clever theatre magic at its best and great fun.

Jean Brookman's costumes are great and work well for the crazy and sometimes literally instant changes. Gerard Kelly's wigs are especially good, in particular the skunk-like stripe in that of Professor Jordan. Gary Burlew's lighting is excellent, while Ryan Rummery's sound design and use of Hitchcockian music is terrific.

There's a lot more to a production than meets the eye. Stage Manager Liz Reddick calls this technically tricky show to perfection. Nat Harrington does a fine job of running the complex sound. Kelly Fayton and Atlas Manning deserve medals for their intricate handling of costume changes and props. I shudder to think of all the frenzied activity backstage in the limited space at the Depot.

This is an exceptionally strong cast. Patrick Toon is perfect as Richard Hannay, an innocent man sucked into this spy milieu. The only cast member to play a single character, his Richard is believable in spite of all the comedic mayhem. He has great comic timing and is hilarious in the hotel bedroom scene.

Margaret Loesser Robinson is equally convincing in all three of her roles as Annabella, the femme fatale; Margaret, a Scots country wife; and Pamela, the initially prudish love interest. Annabella's accent and death scene kept me giggling--I loved the subtle touch of vulnerability she gives Margaret and believed her eventual melting toward Richard as the innocently stubborn Pamela.

Michael Di Liberto and Wynn Harmon are simply wonderful as everybody else and work together like an experienced vaudeville duo. They're a riot as the multiple characters in the train scene and as the lurking spies complete with lamppost and intermittent underscoring.  Mr. Di Liberto is especially funny as a squeaking politician. As the villainous Professor, Mr. Harmon reminded me a bit of a comic Christopher Walken. His death scene is shamelessly extended and absolutely hilarious.

Mark Shanahan has done a masterful job of staging and directing. Here's where "creative" comes in again. I loved the bloodhound, the wind, the airplane, the car ride, the escape through the window--I could go on and on. The pace is incredible. Through it all he and his talented cast have a light touch and maintain the perfect tone for the material.  

Whether or not you're a Hitchcock fan, "The 39 Steps" is enormously entertaining.  The play throws in everything but a rubber chicken--although there are rubber fish. This is one not to miss. If you can't get to the Depot, catch it in Glens Falls or Lake Placid.

On a scale of one to five the material gets a five and the Depot Theatre production of "The 39 Steps" gets five and a bit for an average of five boxcars and a caboose.