THE 39 STEPS at The Seattle Rep

Eric Hissom, and Ted Deasy in THE 39 STEPS" width="398" height="290">The Seattle Rep has opened it's 2009-2010 season with a real crowd pleaser, "The 39 Steps".  This Tony Award winning play that is still running on Broadway after almost 2 years shows that it knows how to charm audiences outside of New York as well. 

Based on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, the play follows Richard Hannay (hilariously played by Ted Deasy), a man who has been caught up in the plot of a group of spies to smuggle a secret formula out of the country and he must stop them and clear his name of murder as well.  So sounds like your typical Hitchcock formula.  How is this so funny?  Well take into account that the show is performed with very little furniture or set pieces and, oh yes, by only four actors.  

Deasy only ever plays the one character, Hannay, but he does it with so much focus and outrageous attitude that he fills the stage with his presence and has no problem being our through line for the show.  But then that leaves all of the remaining characters to be played by the remaining three actors.  And what a feat that is.  Claire Brownell plays all the damsels in distress in our piece and manages to pass so gracefully from one character to another that I had to keep reminding myself it was the same woman.  Each of her strong women is miles apart from the other.  And each one is wonderfully hysterical in her own way.  And then there's Eric Hissom and Scott Parkinson who are only listed as Man #1 and Man #2.  These two actors epitomize comic timing as they transform from one character to another with a simple change of a hat or coat.  In fact in one scene the two actors each played three characters in the span of about a minute.  And another scene had one of the actors playing two characters and having a conversation with himself.  Major kudos to both of those actors for pulling it off with seeming ease. 

The set (or lack thereof) only adds to the hilarity as trunks are turned into train cars, a lamppost is shuttled on and off stage or (my personal favorite) Deasy hanging from the train tracks on a bridge (a ladder suspended over two other ladders).  Add this to the over the top 30's acting style, wonderful light and sound designs and the occasional wink to the audience or reference to other Hitchcock classics and you have a truly fun night in store.  Hitchcock himself even makes and appearance of sorts at one point (though I won't ruin the surprise for you and tell you where).  So do yourself a favor and catch this one before it leaves.  You'll be sure to have a killer time. 

"The 39 Steps" plays at The Seattle Repertory Theatre through October 24^th.  For tickets or information contact the Rep box office at 206-443-2222 or visit them online at www.seattlerep.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.