Lexington Park, MD – The exciting mystery-thriller, The 39 Steps, by John Buchan, opened with the Newtowne Players at The Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park Oct. 2 and will run through Oct. 18. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 3:30 p.m. For ticket information you may visit www.newtowneplayers.org or you may call the Box Office at 301-737-5447.
The play is advertised as “frenetic”; the word frenetic does not even come close to describing the onstage mayhem—and what surely must be backstage mayhem—occurring during this two-hour, action-packed comedy. The 39 Steps originated as an adventure novel by Scottish author John Buchan. It first appeared as a serial in Blackwood’s Magazine during August and September of 1915 before being published as a book in Scotland. It was the first of five novels to feature the action hero Richard Hannay.
The novel itself was the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie version and was one of the earliest examples of the innocent man-on-the-run-style thrillers. Note the occasional Hitchcock movie references found in the stage version. A color movie re-make was made in 1959 followed by a 1978 version. In 2008 it was remade for British TV. In August of 1939, Orson Wells starred in a Mercury Theatre on the Air Radio broadcast of the story. The original London production opened in August of 2006 in Kilburn and transferred to the Criterion Theatre in the West End in September of 2006. It is still running at the Criterion and is due to close at the end of this year. The U.S Broadway debut occurred in January of 2008. The production moved to various theatres through 2010, eventually closing off-Broadway. The Broadway production received six Tony nominations and won awards for Best Lighting Design and for Best Sound Design.
The story, which combined personal and political drama, was written while Buchan was sick in bed with an ulcer. The origin of the title “39 Steps” came about when his six-year-old daughter was counting the wooden stairs leading from the garden down to the beach at a nursing home where he was convalescing. Later, when that house was demolished, a section of the stairs along with a brass plaque was sent to him. This particular phrase not only became the title, but is a critical thread of the plotline and is a key to its solution.
The novel is set in May and June of 1914. Richard Hannay, an expatriate Scot now living in London, befriends a mysterious stranger who claims to be following a ring of German spies. Richard allows the stranger to stay overnight, but the house guest subsequently is found dead in the apartment. Richard feels he will be the next victim and flees to Scotland.
In the NTP version, presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., the audience’s laughter begins even before the mimes start their opening routine; they take their positions for the opening, and stand momentarily motionless in identical striped shirts with minimal makeup; their facial expressions are priceless.
Then we are in 1935 London in Richards’s apartment, watching as he enjoys sipping a scotch and soda during his opening monologue. The fun really begins as the stage revolves. Richard finds himself at “the theatre” with the clowns Jonathan Berry as MC and Chris Joyce as Mr. Memory. And thus also begins the non-stop hilarious camaraderie of Mr. Berry and Mr. Joyce with their various disguises and accents. Annabella Schmidt (Jules Schrader) seats herself beside our hero Richard Hannay (Jeff Maher) during the evening’s entertainment. Annabella insists on going home with Richard, and the stage revolves again as we return to his apartment. As luck would have it, Annabella turns up dead in the morning (in a most unpleasant way). Richard races off to Scotland by train in his efforts to solve the mystery of the 39 steps—a clue from Annabelle – and to clear his name as, of course, he will be the first suspect in her murder.
During an evening filled with many exciting stage and special-effects—such as strobe lights, the revolving stage, and gunshots—this next scene segues into one of the most brilliant ever seen by this reviewer on the Three Notch Theatre’s stage. Not only do the characters repeatedly walk on the stage while it’s revolving during scene changes, the stage revolves underneath the wooden “cars” of the train with the actors seated inside resulting in a breath-taking technical spectacle.
Mr. Maher becomes quite the “accidental acrobat” during this phenomenal sequence.
The stage revolves for almost each and every scene change, thanks to the expert stage direction/choreography and technical wizardry of all those behind and in front of the curtain. These scenes take us from Hannay’s London flat to a Cockney music hall to the Edinburgh train to a Highland train, to the Scottish Moors, and more – and this is just Act I. Richard finally arrives at the Professor’s study at Alt-na-Shellach, dropping Annabella Schmidt’s name to gain entry.
Another Act I imaginative sequence features a 3-person simulated airplane. Chris Joyce shines as the Scottish husband, complete with his unique interpretation of a Scottish accent. And Ms. Schrader is a delight to watch as she shows off her wonderful wigs, costumes, characters, and accents. Watch for the especially effective use of the color red in the costumes throughout (note the red shoes and red suspenders).
Act I closes after a scene in the Professor’s study (this is clown Jonathan Berry with a German accent) who is helpful – at first –with Richard’s attempt to escape; however, the Professor is not what he seems.
Be sure to note the soundtrack, which is vital to the plot.
Now for Act II, the scenes transport us to the Sheriff’s office, the Assembly Hall, into a Police car (ingeniously designed), to the McGarrigle Hotel, to the London Palladium and back to Hannay’s London flat. Act II opens with the ridiculously funny Assembly Hall sequence in which the clowns seem to move in excruciatingly slow “slo-mo”. Mr. Berry is especially adept at the achingly slow moves here. (Mr. Berry has been previously seen at NTP in Moon Over Buffalo, and most recently as the Sound Effects man in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). A highlight of Act II is the fabricated “car”. The handcuffed scene in which Mr. Maher and Ms. Schrader attempt to climb over a fence is pure perfection.
The clowns continue their hilarity with various impersonations at the McGarrigle Hotel. Annabelle (now Margaret – or is it Pamela?) inadvertently tantalizes Richard as she painstakingly removes her nylons while handcuffed to him (quite an accomplishment). Mr. Maher’s acting strengths are evident throughout the play, but most notably as he spars with the gifted Ms. Schrader in their hotel room. Mr. Maher displays his extreme versatility as an NTP veteran, having portrayed the lawyer in Deathtrap, the legendary vampire himself in Dracula, the playboy in Boeing, Boeing, and now this leading man in The 39 Steps in the span of just a little over two years. In addition to his thespian talents, Mr. Maher is also credited with the set design for The 39 Steps. Ms. Schrader gives a polished performance here in her auspicious NPT debut.
Continuing on to the Palladium, we are entertained by the multi-talented mimes and we meet Mr. Memory (Chris Joyce) once again. Chris’ bio notes state that he is actually quite boring, but that is far from the truth in regards to his onstage persona.
Each of his clever characterizations is guaranteed to amuse and amaze.
As the two mimes, Lewis Beckley and P. Wade Thompson are new to the Newtowne stage and are adept at executing their smoothly coordinated routines.
Will we discover the secret of the 39 steps? Will Richard Hannay get the girl? (Or was she his all along?) Will the Professor ever die? Will Mr. Memory take his secrets with him? All these answers – and more – are to be found within this James-Bond-like spoof.
Director Jennifer Carnahan has succeeded in bringing the technical aspects of the show as well as the intricacies of the plot to life at the Three Notch Theatre while keeping up the frenzied pace. She has cast a group of actors who are to be commended for their comedic timing and close-knit ensemble skills. Mrs. Carnahan is also supported by her outstanding production crew. Those members responsible for revolving the set deserve a standing ovation of their own; they are Kathryn Sanford, Jacob Wallace, Kyle Medlock, Brandon Maher, Jared Mathe, Shane Mathe, Tim Joyce and Colin Maher. NTP veteran Bill Scarafia served as Producer and has previously directed such NTP hits as Lion In Winter, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Tim Joyce (yes, Chris’ brother – as the saying goes, talent doesn’t just run in this family – it gallops!) fulfills his first leadership position in a full-length show with the title of Assistant Director; he is also an actor in his own right, having been seen in NTP’s Lion in Winter and Little Shop of Horrors. Stage Manager Beth Sanford, repeatedly exceptional in this role, is an NTP veteran and has directed Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and Twelfth Night. Award-winning Lighting Designer Dave Kyser has been an NTP member since 2006 and has to his credit A Christmas Story, Little Shop of Horrors and Picnic for his set designs, and Nunsense, Annie, Deathtrap and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for his lighting designs
Sound Designer Alex Holden achieves his first solo sound design for NTP with The 39 Steps. Veteran NPT Costumer Stacy Oosterink has created a myriad of colorful outfits for the more than 100 costume changes with imagination and flair. She is also an actress (the psychic in Deathtrap) and an award-winning director (Little Shop of Horrors).
Diane Trautman has managed to gather an extraordinary array of props and somehow also managed to keep them organized backstage (including, but not limited to the above-mentioned handcuffs, and fog). Diane is an NTP veteran for props and as musical director. She is retired from St. Mary’s County Public Schools after teaching music and drama at Margaret Brent Middle School for 33 years.
Director Carnahan describes this production, saying, “The 39 Steps is a chance to see an acting marathon as Clowns move quickly between multiple characters, bringing to life policemen, crofters, women, Scottish hotel keepers and so much more”. She continues by adding, “We are thrilled to have such a talented cast that brings a variety of fun and unique characters to life. The talent filling the stage is a joy to watch unfold as we see character after character, and the full emotions of everyone.”
