Written over a century ago, The 39 Steps has evolved from a spy novel studied in schools to an Alfred Hitchcock classic film and now a long-running murder mystery spoof.
Each has been a great success, perhaps appealing to different sides of the evolving brain.
Milder on mystery and long on laughs, the Drayton Entertainment production is theatrical tomfoolery expedited by witty actors and clever stage antics. The audience is poised for a laugh at every turn.
The show delights in all things Hitchcockian, and references are fun to recognize. The “master of suspense” is honoured in the musical score, with blaring trumpets out of turn, disturbing and ominous.
His trademark cameo is seen in a portly silhouette along with pursuing crop dusters through the Scottish moors. Shadows and smoky spotlights linger. His typically blonde heroine stares into space; starkly vulnerable as she removes her stockings.
There are only four actors in the production, playing a multitude of characters too numerous to mention (139).
They work very hard transitioning between roles, sometimes playing two at once while ingeniously creating their own scenes from simple props. Flapping their coat tails to depict windy moments was hilarious every time.
More physical were the chase scenes involving planes, trains and automobiles. Jumping between large chest trunks to depict a boxcar chase, climbing through picture frames as windows, turning doors around to transform outside to inside; the actors don’t skip a beat through it all.
Jayme Armstrong plays most of the female roles beginning with the dark, enigmatic femme fatale Annabella Schmidt. She retains her air of mystery even through her exaggerated accent and odd demise.
Armstrong has played so many leading parts for Drayton Entertainment, and these roles further showcase her talent. She was unrecognizable as Annabella.
The death of that character sets into motion the series of events of everyman Richard Hannay as portrayed by Patrick R. Brown.
A suspect in her murder, he is hurtled into life on the lam, a fugitive unwittingly embroiled in an international spy ring involving the covert 39 steps.
Flight across the Flying Scotsman, escape on the Forth Bridge, a plane crash and London Palladium fiasco are enacted on the stage with inventive skill. Brown plays it well with a naïve class befitting an ordinary man tossed into an extraordinary adventure.
The other two actors, in the playbill as Clown #1 and Clown #2, play every manner of character that Hannay encounters.
Eddie Glen and Cliff Saunders play the clowns with a touch of Monty Python and a ton of wit, agility and talent.
Extreme accents and facial expressions abound as they play a frisky Scottish inn owner couple, an inaudible speech giver, Mr. Memory or bumbling police officers.
A recurring Hitchcockian theme portrays police officers as such due to his lifelong fear of policemen.
Kevin Bigger makes a great directorial debut with Drayton Entertainment in this production, especially with 139 roles to consider.
Movement by Christopher Bayes covered the extensive and fantastic choreography, physical comedy and movement.
There was much spontaneous clapping and laughing throughout the show and a jovial atmosphere reigned.
The 39 Steps is a killer. It runs at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to June 17.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, online at www.draytonentertainment.com or by calling the box office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
