The 39 Steps, Salisbury Playhouse Review
The Company of The 39 Steps. Photo by Alastair Muir
Written by Charlotte C for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
When you think of an Alfred Hitchcock spy thriller, you don’t naturally associate it with physical comedy, endless costume changes, and the audience crying with laughter — but that’s exactly what you get with Patrick Barlow’s all-new stage production of The 39 Steps.
Attractive and charismatic Richard Hannay embarks on an adventure from the streets of London to the remote Scottish highlands as he tries to solve a mystery involving murders, spies, and a dash of romance.
What makes this production unique is that the whole cast is made up of only four actors, with Mateo Oxley leading the helm as Richard Hannay, Mei Mei MacLeod as Annabella, Pamela and Margaret, and Danielle Bird and Phil Yarrow playing… everyone else. Bird and Yarrow play dozens of characters between them, with lightning fast costume changes, hilarious multi-roling within the same scene (sometimes even within the same conversation), and accents galore.
The only difference in cast in this particular performance was that the role of Richard Hannay was played by the company’s incredible off-stage swing, Charlotte Bloomsbury. Not only did she give an exceptional performance in a gender-flipped lead role, but she did it so naturally that it felt like it was meant to happen all along—and she did it with only 24 hours notice. Swings are the often invisible heroes of theatre, and this was one of those special performances that showed just how remarkable they are.
One of the best things about the production is the sheer pace, from the dialogue coming thick and fast from all angles, to the set, props and costume changes that have the audience laughing and cheering hysterically. Each and every movement is choreographed to perfection, and the tight and witty script packs a punch. All of the creative elements come together in a way that makes you feel like you’re watching a film come to life on stage, from the colour palettes and lighting to the sweeping and dramatic musical score.
Following their production of Stones in His Pockets last year, Wiltshire Creative seem to be on the ball with their high energy productions in which a very small cast play a huge number of roles, and they’re truly knocking them out the park. A production that the whole family can enjoy, everyone — whether they’re a theatre lover or a film nerd — will go away enchanted by this production of The 39 Steps.
At Salisbury Playhouse until 8th March, Mercury Theatre Colchester from 11th to 29th March, and Octagon Theatre Bolton from 16th April to 10th May.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
