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Don't walk, don't run, don't drive, don't take a ride with strangers on a train, but fly as fast as you can North by Northeast of Atlanta to the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's new Southern Stage in Buford and their side-splitting production of "Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps." This is the maiden show for GTA's new professional resident company in the gorgeous Sylvia Beard Theatre at the new Buford Community Center, and it more than gives urban-Atlantans reason to venture to the northern suburbs of Gwinnett and Hall counties.
Directed by GTA's Artistic and Managing Director Jim Hammond, this four person cast treats Hitchcock's classic spy drama with a hilarious Monty Python-style sensibility, complete with lightning fast costume changes, outlandish physical comedy, and dozens of quirky accents. There is no doubt that this is one of the best pieces of theatre in the Atlanta-Metro area this year.
As in John Buchan's 1915 novel and Hitchcock's 1935 film, the play, adapted by Patrick Barlow, sees Richard Hanney (Josh Carpenter, the only actor to play only one character) become an unwitting player in an international espionage plot. When the first, of several, of Hanney's romantic interests (all played by Elizabeth Wells Berkes) is murdered in his flat, he must take the information she gave him to stop the evil mastermind and save England. In his doing so, the cast lampoons Hitchcock films with numerous winking allusions and some baldfaced puns. While the film version of "The 39 Steps" is earnest and suspenseful, the play is anything but; using the storyline as a vehicle to entertain and amaze.
While Carpenter and Berkes play four parts combined, Suzi Award winner Jimi Kocina and Matt Magill, credited only as "Clowns," play over 100 roles (men, women, inanimate objects); not that you will be able to count them all. Kocina similarly dazzled as multiple characters in last year's "Sweet Charity" at the Aurora Theatre.
It is difficult to speak of the performances of individual actors as this show is the epitome of theatrical teamwork. The timing, polish, and precision required to pull off the quick changes, sight-gags, and slapstick rivals that of any sports team. Despite the countless British Isles accents, each one was remarkably understandable, and perhaps even more surprisingly, the actors were able to keep them all straight. Each actor is impressively versatile, absurd, and, honestly, perfect. I'm not sure what more you could want from a cast.
Hammond, who has been GTA's Artistic and Managing Director for over 23 years, has, along with his cast and designers, created an outstanding piece to christen their new Southern Stage. If this trend continues, theatre fans and professionals better get used to making the drive north to Buford.
Like Hitchcock, who pioneered the use of music and sound effects to amplify a scene's suspense, Technical Director and Props Master Joshua Crisp and Lighting Director Todd Wren use all of the tools available to them to maximize each scene's drama and comedy. The crew, comprised of GTA students, deserves an immense amount of credit for keeping the show running smoothly as well.
"The 39 Steps" at GTA's Southern Stage in Buford has been extended to April 28th and runs two hours and 15 minutes (which fly by). While many Atlanta theatre fans might not be able to see Buford out of their rear windows, they would be psycho not to make the trip to see this show. To get tickets call 678-717-3624 or visit their website. Trust me, you will thank me after you see the show.
Check back with Broadway World Atlanta on Tuesday for an in-depth article on the Gainesville Theatre Alliance's partnership with the city of Buford.
