The 39 Steps at Players Club of Swarthmore

The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, runs April 17–25, 2026 at the Players Club of Swarthmore, directed by Julie Zaffarano. The story follows Richard Hannay, played by Adam Corbett, whose life unravels when a woman claiming to be a spy is murdered in his apartment, leaving him framed and fleeing across the country from both the police and the mysterious organization known as The 39 Steps. Kathy Gilbert takes on the triple roles of Annabella, Margaret, and Pamela, while Hannah Pearsall, Geremy Webne-Behrman, Thomas-Robert Irvin, and Max Segarnick portray a rotating cast of dozens of characters through quick changes, physical comedy, and theatrical ingenuity. The production blends film noir atmosphere with farcical humor, as four actors, a handful of props, and sheer imagination bring this Hitchcockian chase to life.