Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Trafalgar Theatre, London
Cast: Tom Byrne, Safeena Ladha, Eugene McCoy, Maddie Rice
Follow the incredible adventures of our handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.
This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller features four fearless actors, playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.
The highly acclaimed comedy thriller The 39 Steps is making its stop back on the West End! All I knew going into this show was that it was originally a book that Alfred Hitchcock adapted into a movie. I hadn’t seen the movie, but I'd seen a few of his other hits, so I was definitely intrigued.
This was one of the best designed shows I’ve ever seen. The set design by Peter McKintosh was eclectic and fun. Anything could be anything, and nothing obeyed the laws of physics. The same could be said for his costume design, and he created a wardrobe whereby the actors could seamlessly transform from one character to another in the blink of an eye. Mic Pool’s sound design added another level to the show and emphasised so many comedic moments. The stand out was Ian Scott’s lighting design. It perfectly set every scene. The way the lights flickered in style of a Hitchcock film brought me right into the show, and every choice they made kept me in the realm of the show. With a show so heavily focused on the comedic words and acting, I loved that the design team had several moments to shine.
What truly made this show was the cast. Tom Byrne (Hannay) was an amazing lead. As the only actor who remained the same character, he had to be the main thread that connected the entire show, and Byrne did this wonderfully. Safeena Ladha (Pamela/Annabella/Margaret) played the role of the romantic interest perfectly, over and over and over again. Each of her characters felt like their own individual person and were portrayed so well I sometimes forgot they were all played by the same person. I can’t even begin to describe how incredible Eugene McCoy (Clown 1) and Maddie Rice (Clown 2) were. They played so many different characters I lost count, but they were able to bring unique mannerisms and accents to each of them. As an ensemble, this cast played so well together. Their comedic timing was impeccable. It was an amazing four-person cast…or was it four?
Nicola Samer’s direction brought this show to yet another level. Every moment was so perfectly timed for comedic effect; from each character's mannerisms, the way the props were used, and the different staging elements. I loved how every moment was well thought out to maximise the comedic effect. There was an air of whimsy and excitement throughout the show that I think was felt on and off stage.
This was one of the most fun shows I’ve been to in a long time, and possibly ever. What makes this show great is that it’s suited for all ages. The theatre was filled with children and adults all laughing raucously throughout. If you are looking for a good laugh and an even better show, then look no further than The 39 Steps.
You can book tickets to see The 39 Steps, here.
Review by Becca
**photo credit: Mark Senior**
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