After more than 1,100 New York performances, “The 39 Steps” will end its run on January 16, 2011. The Tony Award-winning show has appeared on and off Broadway since January 2008 and is currently completing an Off-Broadway run at New World Stages.
“The 39 Steps” plays in the 499-seat Stage 1 theater at the multi-stage playhouse. It is an adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, which was itself taken from a Richard Hannay spy novel by John Buchan.
The main character, Richard Hannay, is an Englishman leading an everyday life until a night at the theater thrusts him into a world of espionage, conspiracy and crime. As he tries to solve the mystery of The 39 Steps before the police or enemy spies catch up to him, he enlists the help of several strangers, including a couple in the Scottish countryside, an Englishwoman on her way to a speaking engagement in Edinburgh, and an elderly couple who runs a small bed and breakfast.
The cast consists of John Behlmann as Richard Hannay; Kate MacCluggage as Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret; Jamie Jackson as Man #1; and Cameron Folmar as Man #2. Patrick Barlow wrote this adaptation of the play, and Maria Aitken directs.
The cast of four has impeccable timing, particularly Jackson and Folmar. The actors’ comedic talent is especially evident during the hectic scenes in which several characters are portrayed by two men without anyone leaving the stage. The actors sometimes switch accents as often as they switch hats (which is to say, quite a bit).
Meanwhile, Kate MacCluggage portrays the three main female parts with ease, using completely different speech and mannerisms for the spy, the proper Englishwoman and the Scottish housewife.
The tongue-in-cheek show keeps the audience roaring with laughter. Minimal sets are used, which allows the audience to use their imaginations and the cast to use some hilarious props. At one point, Men #1 and #2 become set pieces themselves, until Hannay finally kicks them off the stage.
Regular ticket prices range from $69.50 up to $89.50. TicketNews readers can save up to 56 percent off ticket face values when they use “The 39 Steps” discount code TNNEWS1010.
The regular production schedule includes evening performances at 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, as well as 3 p.m. matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Some date and time exceptions are in effect during the holidays. Complete scheduling details are available on “The 39 Steps'” official Web site.
“The 39 Steps” is currently playing at New World Stages, located at 340 West 50th Street in New York, NY. The play runs about an hour and 50 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
“The 39 Steps” was reviewed in participation with TicketNews’ Discount Theatre Program, which provides unique discount codes for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and other theatrical productions. For more information on the program or enrolling a production, visit our Discount Theatre Program page or e-mail Liz Hoffman.
