Thursday, June 14, 2012

SRT's 39 Steps - fast paced hilarity

The Sierra Repertory Theater presentation of Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" is fast paced hilarity steeped with international intrigue from beginning to end. Though based in England and Scotland in 1935, there is no need to crack open a Rosetta Stone for the Queen's English as the cast consistently misunderstands each other's thick accents, causing great confusion and yet even more hilarity as they verbally volley. Much like a melodrama the acting in 39 steps speaks as loud as words and draws the audience into the storyline with ease. Clever lines delivered tongue in cheek and scenes filled with creative and off-the-wall action make this play one for the memory books.






Though there are multiple characters in this international spy thriller, in SRT's 'The 39 Steps' all characters are masterfully played by just four talented cast.

Laura Cable at one moment becomes an exotic European spy and the next a Scottish highlands house frau, yet always the object of a certain wanna-be sleuth's affections.

Toby Miller played one incredibly inexhaustible character throughout the action-packed production, keeping the audience laughing and guessing what would happen next, as he flitted from country to country, cleverly escaping his captors, in search of the all illusive murderer and the meaning of the 39 steps.

Then there were actors Jim Shine and David Thorton. Some actors just seem to go above and beyond the basic script and directorial guidance, the audience never quite sure if its part of the play or if its a bit of ad lib, Jim and David were those actors. They kept the audience guessing and laughing the whole time. Between the two they played so many characters the audience was riveted to their scenes as they would literally change their character mid scene...how they did it? Well, you will just have to see for yourself.

For more information visit http://www.sierrarep.com/