Review: THE 39 STEPS at Trafalgar Theatre, London
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| Photo credit: Mark Senior |
If you're in the mood for a night of silliness, dashing derring-do, and
enough theatrical tomfoolery to make your head spin, then make a beeline to the
Trafalgar Theatre. The 39 Steps has stormed back into London with all its
madcap energy, and it’s going to make you smile.
The issue is that it might not make you laugh out loud.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad show (it’s not, it’s great), and it doesn’t
mean it’s not worth watching (it is – I absolutely recommend it), but it might
not be the side-splitting humour you’re looking for.
On the plus side, this ingenious production, where four fearless actors play
an astonishing 139 roles, is a masterclass in how to turn the serious business
of a classic Hitchcock spy thriller into a gleeful, giggling romp. Tom Byrne,
as our pencil-moustachioed hero Richard Hannay, is the epitome of
stiff-upper-lipped charm, dashing about with a mix of clueless bravado and
bewildered charisma that makes you root for him at every turn.
But the real stars of the show might just be Safeena Ladha, Eugene McCoy,
and Maddie Rice, who together play everyone else in the story – and I do mean everyone.
From sultry femme fatales to dastardly villains, clueless cops, and even the
occasional inanimate object, these three actors switch characters faster than
you can say "spy ring." McCoy and Rice, the dynamic duo of Clowns 1
and 2, practically redefine the word "versatility." If you’ve ever
wanted to see one actor play an entire police force, a Scottish innkeeper, and
a train passenger all in the same scene, this is your moment.
The set is minimalist, but the creativity is maximalist. Doors become train
carriages, ladders transform into bridges, and a few chairs and a lectern
become a car. The inventive use of props and staging is half the fun, as is
watching the actors valiantly navigate this high-speed game of theatrical
musical chairs.
Now let’s talk about the humour… this is where things are let down a little –
the script is a blend of slapstick, puns, and winks to the audience, which is
great, but then there are the few times props go (purposefully) wrong, or a sound
effect doesn’t come in on time, and that’s where it just feels as though we’ve
seen it all before (not least when The 39 Steps played in the West End
on its last run). It’s a bit of a strange mix that doesn’t quite seem to know
what it wants to be.
However, even the most serious Hitchcock fan would have to tip their hat to
how cleverly The 39 Steps pokes fun at the master of suspense while
still celebrating the essence of his work. And sure, the plot might be a bit of
a blur – after all, when you're dealing with a 100-minute comedy where the main
focus is on how the story is told rather than the story itself, who needs
details? The joy here is in the journey, not the destination. It’s a madcap
dash through the Scottish moors, London streets, and more, and you'll be left
breathless and thoroughly entertained, even if it’s not anything
groundbreaking.
The 39 Steps plays at The Trafalgar Theatre until 28th
September 2024: https://trafalgartheatre.com/shows/39-steps/
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