REVIEW: The 39 Steps at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham

Cheltenham

The 39 Steps is a hilarious comedy based on the 1935 film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock. While the film is a classic thriller, this play is a parody, taking shots at the outlandish plot of the film as well as the spy genre itself.

Both the film and the play follow the life story of Richard Hannay, a Canadian gentleman who gets swept into a world of spies, lies, and romance. Tom Byrne, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Prince Andrew in The Crown, plays Hannay with an excitable air, gamely leaping into action at the first whiff of adventure.



This play features a cast of only four actors, but Hannay encounters many duplicitous characters along his journey, such as the gorgeous yet traitorous Pamela, portrayed brilliantly by Safeena Ladha. Her charisma is immediately apparent when she steps on stage as the spy Annabella Schmidt, and each of the characters she plays were received very well by our audience.



The show-stealers, however, were the ‘clowns’, two actors portraying every other character in the show, including an evil professor, a surly old Scottish man, and two entire lines of bagpipe players. How in fact they achieve this needs to be seen to be believed! Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice literally jump between characters, giving each one a unique flair to make them convincing.

Remarkably, Maddie Rice opens the show with an exuberant, booming voice, and doesn’t let her high energy drop throughout the two hour show, ensuring that the play remains exciting and fun even to the very last second.



I must give props - pun intended - to the incredible staging and set design. No spoilers here, but the use of simple props really elevates the play, allowing the actors to interact with each other in inventive and hilarious ways.

Our audience at the amazing Everyman Theatre were fantastic. This was probably the most receptive and engaged audience we’ve been a part of so far! Everyone adored this play’s jokes and characters, even giving the cast a standing ovation at the end. I’m sure that, like us, you’ll find something to love in this new production. Please note that this production includes loud, sudden sounds and flashing lights.

The 39 Steps runs from 21st-25th May 2024, so get your tickets now!

Review by Leah

The Mystery Reviewer

See all listings from The Mystery Reviewer

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