bullets , jumps through windows , joins a political rally , and bumps into Pamela again ; together they escape the police and end up at Hotel McGarrigle . Only in Scotland can he prove he ’ s innocent . So long as he doesn ’ t make a misstep , and his luck holds .
One Misstep in Scotland Will Mean Lights Out
The 39 Steps , a comedy thriller by Patrick Barlow , presented by the English Theatre of Hamburg with Paul Glaser directing
The English Theatre has come roaring back with a tour de force to delight audiences with two hours of laughout-loud fun . The 39 Steps is British playwright Patrick Barlow ’ s 2005 fastpaced , ridiculously exaggerated , and inventive whodunit that has twice won the Tony and Drama Desk Award . Barlow ’ s parody is adapted from Alfred Hitchcock ’ s 1935 film , which added two major female figures , Annabella and Pamela , to John Buchan ’ s 1915 spy novel . Four incredibly gifted actors ’ exuberant portrayals of villains , troupers , sweetheart , and a spy — 150 characters in total — bring it to uproarious life .
London , 1935 , Cockney Music Hall : hoping to relieve his boredom , Richard Hannay is watching “ Mr . Memory ’ s ” memorable performance when a gorgeous dish sits down — only seconds prior to a gunshot . During the ensuing
by Marinell Haegelin
chaos , Annabella persuades Richard to shelter her from two men tailing her . At his flat , Annabella admits to counterspying against a foreign power ’ s secret agent who is dead-set on stealing British military top secrets . He ’ s head of the organized spy ring “ The 39 Steps ” and , she fears , onto her . Annabella describes his give-away physical defect , warning Richard that he ’ s exceedingly dangerous , then borrows a Scotland map while plotting a plan . In the wee hours , she abruptly awakens Richard , alarmed after spotting danger lurking on the street corner . Then , quick as a flash , Annabella falls across Richard ’ s armchair , dead . Aghast , he deduces that the criminal gang knows where he lives and he ’ d better find Annabella ’ s man in Scotland — fast . Boarding a train , once it ’ s clear the coppers are searching for him , he unsuspectingly brings Pamela into the game . With the criminal gang also in hot pursuit , Richard spends the night at the farm of Crofter and his young wife , Margaret . The pace speeds up as Richard dodges
ETH is Hamburg ’ s bridge to London : 550 actors applied for roles in this production , 60 were invited to London auditions , 20 were called back , and , of these , director / choreographer Paul Glaser chose the four thespians currently guesting in Hamburg . What a multi-talented cast : James Killeen plays Richard Hannay throughout ; Madeleine Hutchins plays Annabella , Pamela , and Margaret ; Charlie McCullagh as Man 1 and Jonny Magnanti as Man 2 perform the many other characters . Glaser has focused on balance : honoring the story and choreographing the slapstick . An extra week of rehearsals was required for coordinating characters ’ movements while moving props and changing costumes , makeup , etc .— each actor uses 3-5 accents and heaps of hats and wigs . Their scintillating pantomiming — fantastic facial expressions — pull audiences emotionally into the transitions .
Are you ready for some fun ? With its witty humor , zany depictions , and romantic romp , The 39 Steps is not your run-of-the-mill thriller . It ’ s truly a mustsee . ETH is following Hamburg ’ s 2G COVID guidelines for performances .
THE 39 STEPS runs through January 29 , 2022 . John Patrick Shanley ’ s romantic comedy , OUTSIDE MULLINGAR premieres February 11 and runs through April 10 , 2022 . Evening / matinee performances ; tickets online or at the theater :
https :// eth-hamburg . de /. ETH , Lerchenfeld 14 , 22081 Hamburg , Tel : 040-227 70 89 : U- Bahn Mundsburg .
From left , Madeleine Hutchins , Charlie McCullagh , James Killeen , and Jonny Magnanti driving . Credit : © Kock , ETH