If you climb the plot of “The 39 Steps,” which is infused with elements of film noir and madcap humor, you will discover a play that elevates legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock’s work to comedic heights. Though psychological thrillers “Psycho” (1960) and “The Birds” (1963) largely categorize his legacy, the movie “The 39 Steps,” which is adapted from the novel by John Buchanan, reinterprets comedy from the uniquely Hitchcock perspective.
Set in England in the 1930s, the comedy thriller details one man’s catapult into the fast-paced world of espionage. When the main character, Richard Hannay, is given vital information at the onset of the play, he must pursue the cryptic meaning of the phrase “The 39 Steps.” Failure will compromise England’s national defense. In the process, he is pursed by his nemesis and becomes chained to the classic Hitchcock blonde, explained leading actress Claire Brownell.
The cast of characters includes personalities from the dangerous to the dashing. Ted Deasy plays Richard Hannay, the lead in the international whodunit. Claire Brownell, the cast’s only female actress, commands the three significant roles: the seductive Annabella Smith, the innocent Margaret, and the compelling Pamela.
With her black hat and veil, “Annabella is this femme fatale [who] is trying to solve the mystery herself,” Brownell said. “She comes on as this dangerous sexual presence.”
Margaret, the Scottish housewife taken with Hannay, departs drastically from the powerful, black-clad Annabella, while Pamela finds herself caught-up in the adventure against her will.
“It’s a rare opportunity as a woman being able to play multiple characters in a play,” Brownell said.
Beside Brownell and Deasy, Scott Parkinson and Eric Hissom act the other roughly 100-120 characters in the play. From personifying inanimate objects to creating the play’s key character, Mr. Memory, the actors’ flexibility creates the comedic situations necessary to take the story from the big screen onto the stage.
The actors distinguish the play from the movie using creative characterization. “So much of what is to be found in the characters is in the script; we had a fantastic director who guided us,” Brownell said.
Intimate set changes, Tony Award-winning lighting design, Hitchcock music and a rapid-fire pace define the play’s whirlwind experience. The harried precision with which the play is presented resonates with a range of ages.
“There are so many layers that are integrated into the play. Little kids love it; people who are in and out of school, love it; even my grandparents loved it,” Brownell said.
Cooperation, frenzy and exercise categorize Broadway’s longest-running comedy thriller. Beginning with the first crack of a gunshot, the pace of the play only accelerates. The success of each performance relies upon the absolute interdependence of actors, stage managers and crew.
“I run around for two hours in heels, [then] someone rips your clothes off, you sprint back on stage as a new character. That’s the half of the show no one ever gets to see,” Brownell laughed.
While the play directly follows the movies, a comedic perspective lightens the plot.
“The movie is a thriller with some comedy, we are a comedy thriller a good portion of the dialogue in the play is seen through this hilarious comedic lens,” Brownell said.
Unlike the movie, the play’s sparse set allows for intimate interaction with the audience. Various elements – lighting, smoke, close-up moments and music – acknowledge the romantic film style of the 1930s.
“The way that we’ve created it is uniquely theatrical. It really highlights what we four actors can do,” Brownell said.
The true value of the show, however, lies in its ability to give audiences a night of sidesplitting laughter.
“It’s a great show for families to come to,” Brownell said. “It’s a gift to the theatre to want to cultivate a younger theater audience to carry into the future.”
The Overture Center for the Arts presents the two-time Tony Award-winning play, “The 39 Steps,” from November 10-15. All student tickets are $20.
