The 39 Steps ~ University of Adelaide Theatre Guild ~ Review

[Theatre - SA] The 39 Steps The Little Theatre, Adelaide University Thu Oct 25, 2024 Sound effects were already a thing of the past in the 1930’s, when ‘The 39 Steps’ is set. By bringing live SFX together with a brilliant script, an energetic and emotive ensemble and a bare stage, the setting is ideal for this delightful dalliance. Whether on a train ride from London through England to Scotland, complete with daring stunts, or a plane diving through the sky, the hectic pace of this comedy thriller is relentless. Blending the silly and the sinister may sound like a recipe for disaster. It takes a superb cast and a firm hand as director to keep it on track. The Adelaide University Theatre Guild strikes the perfect note. Director Mark Wickett has given full rein to the clever clowning and tight timing of the four actors. They give excellent performances all round, and play so many characters we lose count. They change so fast and so often, it sometimes has to happen on stage! The production team also do a fantastic job of keeping the show flowing smoothly. Frenetic action sequences are beautifully balanced by intimate moments, some tender and some awkward. Yes, there are plenty of tropes - or cliches/stereotypes as we used to call them - and they’re all thrown into the mix. But that’s the point of the hilarious fun; after all it is a spy spoof. Slapstick, farce, vaudeville - every genre gets a run in this romp, with more than a touch of good old British class and stiff upper lip to steady the ship. As a boy, I devoured the adventure stories of John Buchan. Before James Bond he was the portal to the mysterious world of spies. Yet the possibility of the looming war in the late 1930’s makes the story elements all too real, despite the playfulness. The dashing hero here is perhaps the first anti-hero, in that he is reluctantly thrust into the role of being the only one who can avert the threat to their nation. He must rely on his wits - and a healthy modicum of good looks - to navigate the dangers lurking in every scene. Luckily there is a blossoming love interest stumbling alongside the plot to support his virtuous motivations. Don’t miss this excellent and thoroughly enjoyable evening of pure theatre, with some pertinent points for our present situation. 5 Stars David Cronin The 39 Steps continues at The Little Theatre at various times until Sun Nov 3rd. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #TheClothesline