"The 39 Steps" performance at Az. Theater Co.

Scottish novelist John Buchan wrote this mystery in 1915. In 1935 it was made into an adventure film by Alfred Hitchcock. Recently it was adapted to the stage by Patrick Barlow who cast the entire film with only 4 actors. The main character is Richard Hannay who becomes involved in murder and with spies that take him from London to the Scottish Highlands and back again. The female role is played by an actress that takes the part of the three women he meets along the way.Two other male actors play multiple roles including cops, spies, Scotsmen and women and others.

The play is truly FARCE and the cast at the ATC handles it very well both the dialogue filled with puns and jokes and the physical comedy. Most impressive was the staging, the handling of props and numerous costume changes.

There are three main reactions to plays that are this farcical; Laugh out Loud funny. Quiet smiles and smirks and those that see it as inane and pointless. AzBuddy was the silent smiler and smirker. But the actors played to a full house and a standing ovation.