Based on the film by Alfred Hitchcock, The 39 Steps is adapted by Patrick Barlow. Starring: Daniel Harray, Billy Carter, Robert Petkoff, and Brittany Vicars.
Absurdly funny and hilariously ridiculous, The 39 Steps takes its viewers on an adventure full of murder, betrayal, love, and one death-defying chase across the top of a moving train. The cast of four play over 150 characters flawlessly, sometimes acting as three different personas in the same scene, distinguished only by the switch of a hat or the turn of a coat. Robert Petkoff keeps the same character throughout the play, while Daniel Harray and Billy Carter play every other character besides three different women all played by Brittany Vicars. Although the costume changing may seem confusing at first, the plot itself is easy to follow and the actors make it clear who is who and what is happening, even if it means breaking the fourth wall to do it.
The play follows Richard Hannay (Robert Petkoff) who gets tangled up in an international spy agency after a life-changing evening at a theater where a German spy follows him home and is then murdered in his bedroom. The next hour-and-a-half tells the tale of Hannay as he tries to clear himself of the murder charges while also attempting to fulfill the spy’s dying wish of stopping “The Professor” from getting his hands on and revealing the 39 steps, a secret that could destroy England and start a war.
The best aspect of the play, besides the brilliant work of the actors, was the extraordinary set work being done on and off stage. In seconds the scene could change as fast as the actors. The lobby of a hotel quickly changed into a suite by simply turning a cupboard around to reveal a bed and a fireplace. What was once a pile of luggage quickly became the seats to a moving train, and then changed once again into the roof of the same train.To make the illusion even more absorbing is the shaking and swaying of the actors, all in perfect rhythm to the shaking and swaying of an actual train. While this is all going on two of the actors rotate between five different characters by simply trading hats and changing accents every few seconds. Everything individually may seem bizarre, but when it is all put together it creates an instantaneous illusion that the actors truly are being chased along and atop a moving train.
The malleability of the sets coupled with the performer’s chameleon-like ability to shed one personality and slip into another is what made this play such an amazing experience. Looking at the play from many separate aspects, including comedic effect, set design, acting ability, and audience interest, I would give this play an A on all counts and would recommend that any YU or Stern student interested in performing arts, or simply interested in having a good laugh, take time out of their week to see this play.
The 39 Steps is playing at the Union Square Theater (100 E 17th St.) with tickets for students only $20.