The 39 Steps At The Oxford Playhouse Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
John Buchan’s classic 1915 spy novel, The 39 Steps which was finely adapted by Alfred Hitchcock and then went on to become a stage play in 1996, continues its history with Patrick Barlow’s unique 2005 version. This brilliantly funny smash-hit version is now on tour and playing at the wonderfully historic Oxford Playhouse.
Amazingly, this show has only four actors playing an unbelievable 139 roles in an intense and action packed 100 minutes. All four cast members rise to this incredible challenge with panache, commitment and sheer hard work! Audiences will be treated to a superbly scripted tremendously physical comedy – the winning formula for a feel-good night out! The art of slapstick comedy is not an easy one to nail and the cast do so with style, with many hilarious laugh out loud moments!
With perfect casting, Tom Byrne makes the lead character of the bored but likeably affable Richard Hannay his own with some daring physical antics, great energy and comic timing. When Hannay meets a woman who says she is a spy, he takes her back to his home but things go wrong when she ends up murdered. Hannay is then the victim of a manhunt, which sees him being chased across the country by the mysterious ‘The 39 Steps’, meeting many hilariously interesting characters along the way – it is all brilliant fun!
This is a play full of physical slapstick moments, with things going wrong left, right and centre. It sweeps you along with its pace and physicality and I would dare anyone not to enjoy the ride! The inventive cast are also brilliant at improvisation and involve the audience in the mishaps, with the anticipatory comic gems being down to genius timing – hats off and a big thank you to the sound and lighting crew for adding to the many laughs!
The three main female characters are brilliantly played by Safeena Ladha, my favourite being a great performance of the prim and proper Pamela. The two clown roles, played by Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice are finely well executed, demonstrating amazing talent, versatility and verbal dexterity with how they can switch roles and accents on the flip of a coin. The brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock is also deftly threaded throughout, with, in true Hitchcock style, a cameo performance and lots of scripted and visual references.
The set lends itself well in supporting the hilariously physical moments. With iffy ladders, lots of doors and windows – the cast are brave and work incredibly hard to ensure all the hallmarks are all there for slapstick comedy gold. Throughout the 100 minutes, there doesn’t seem to be even time to pause in the comic mayhem!
With a wonderfully dashing sense of fun, The 39 Steps is a breath of fresh air in never taking itself too seriously. This is an excellent production and not to be missed. Congratulations to all the fabulous cast and crew!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £14
The 39 Steps is showing at The Oxford Playhouse, Oxford from Tuesday 11th June to Saturday 15th June, for more information or to book tickets visit
https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-39-steps
or call the box office on 01865 3053
Beaumont Street, Oxfordshire, OX1 2LW