The 39 Steps
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
from novel by John Buchan
Directed by David New
Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace (map)
thru Aug 26 | tickets: $35-$46 | more info
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Corny, hackneyed set of (mis)steps
Drury Lane Theatre presents
The 39 Steps
Review by Lauren Whalen
Good comedy, like breaking up, is hard to do. Whether high- or lowbrow, it’s all about timing, delivery and strong, impenetrable skill. The 39 Steps seeks uproarious laughter through ridiculous costumes, silly stunts and overplayed gestures. Many around me at Drury Lane roared with laughter; I genuinely wondered why. All I saw were four very hardworking actors trying to make the most of an sophomoric script that tries way too hard.
Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation of John Buchan’s adventure novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s film takes a humorous approach to the misadventures of Englishman Richard Hannay (Peter Simon Hilton). Armed with a perpetual stiff upper lip, Hannay finds himself in one sticky situation after another. And whether it involves fleeing his London apartment after a dead body literally falls on his lap, giving a rousing speech while unwittingly impersonating a Scottish politician, or solving the mystery of the mythical “39 steps”, Hannay finds a way out – often with a pretty lady by his side.
Director David New sees Hannay’s journey as that of a hero comparable to Odysseus, King Arthur or Harry Potter. In a passionate program note, describing The 39 Steps as a three-phase process: Departure, Initiation and Return. I’m no boy wizard, but for me this note was strangely prophetic. My mind departed from the theater when the same mildly funny joke was repeated ten times in a row. I was initiated a world of confusion when I tried to see why everyone else found a man dressed as a woman so hilarious. Twice. At curtain call, I returned to the realization that I possess a sense of humor very different than many of the other people in the audience.
The 39 Steps has enjoyed Tony Awards, successful Broadway and West End runs and more than one national tour. There’s clearly some sort of appeal, but I just can’t figure out what it is. Nothing wrong with pure silliness, but when the gags are overdone and the plot never really goes anywhere – despite the main character traveling multiple destinations – the loud voices and exaggerated misunderstandings grow dull. At one point, an actor jumps through a wooden frame to suggest leaping out a window. Then he does it again, and then a third time, for no real reason than to show an actor jumping through a frame to suggest leaping out a window. See also: a scene involving two actors, a pair of handcuffs and a fence that goes on about 10 minutes longer than it should.
The one highlight of The 39 Steps is its incredibly mobile cast, whose talent overrides their source material. As man-on-the-run Hannay, Peter Simon Hilton gamely runs about making goofy faces and snide remarks. The other 139 characters are portrayed by only three actors: Jeff Dumas and Paul Kalina switch dialects, costumes and mannerisms with aplomb, often several times in the same scene. And sole female cast member Angela Ingersoll’s sense of fun is infectious as she vamps it up, plays it sweet and gets sassy (as a mysterious femme fatale, an innocent housewife and a sassy traveler, respectively).
If only strong performances were enough. With its shallow plot, schlocky script and overdone pratfalls, The 39 Steps is a farce in search of a punchline.
Rating: ★½
The 39 Steps continues through August 26th at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace (map). Tickets are $35-$46, and are available by phone (630-530-0111) or through their website. (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). Lunch and dinner packages are also available. More info at DruryLaneOakbrook.com. (Running time: 2 hours, includes an intermission)
Photos by Brett Beiner