Reviewed by Judy Richter
The old saying, "Less is
more," certainly applies to TheatreWorks' production of "The 39
Steps."
Billed as a spoof, it's Patrick Barlow's adaptation of a book by John Buchan from the movie by Alfred
Hitchcock. When
the national touring production of the London and New York hit came to San
Francisco's Curran Theatre in December 2009, it was entirely too frantic,
played so broad and so silly that it soon grew tiresome. TheatreWorks director Robert
Kelley and his
four-person cast show more restraint, relying on the material itself and the
actors' skills to convey the story and action. The result is often hilarious,
always entertaining. The more intimate setting of the Mountain View Center for
the Performing Arts also helps.
Mark
Anderson Phillips anchors
the production as the debonair Richard Hannay, a Canadian in London in 1935.
Having grown somewhat weary of his life, he decides to go to the theater, where
he encounters a mysterious woman, Annabella Schmidt (Rebecca Dines), who asks to go home with him
because she's being pursued. In short order, she's stabbed to death, but not
before she warns him that England is in grave danger because some important,
secret information is about to leave the country. She also tells him enough to
send him on his way to Scotland in search of the elusive 39 Steps. In the
meantime, he finds himself fleeing the police because he's the prime suspect in
Annabella's murder.
Dines
plays most of the other female characters, including Pamela, who becomes
Richard's unwitting companion and eventual love interest. All of the other
characters are played by Cassidy Brown and Dan Hiatt, who often change characters merely with the
switch of a hat. Brown also appears as some female characters. The overall
result is a delightful romp that showcases the actors' diversity while
entertaining the audience with its story. The production also has numerous
verbal and visual allusions to Hitchcock films. They include a silhouette of
the famed director, who was known for brief appearances in his films.
Joe
Ragey designed
the minimal set, which starts with a virtually bare stage, while B. Modern's costumes accommodate quick
changes. The lighting is by Steven B. Mannshardt with sounds by Christopher
Graham.
TheatreWorks
proves that less is more and that bigger isn't necessarily better in its
fast-paced, highly enjoyable "The 39 Steps."