Director: Toni Garson
Starring: Mike Scanlon, Manonpagna Chin, Jonathan Lane, Rachel Mitchell
Venue: The Meteor 23-27 September 2020
Billed as a combination of Hitchcock, a spy novel and Monty Python, the cast of The 39 Steps had the sold out Meteor audience laughing from beginning to end.
Set in August 1935 in London, Richard Hannay (Mike Scanlon) is falsely accused of murder, and during his quest to clear his name meets 150 other characters played by Manonpagna Chin, Jonathan Lane and Rachel Mitchell. The 39 Steps is a massive undertaking for the cast both in terms of dialogue and physical comedy. Slapstick relies on complete trust and the cast’s confidence in each other was evident. The quartet dialled up the comedy in this high energy, flat tack performance.
Scanlon is no stranger to stage and due to his vast theatrical experience has excellent performance stamina and can ham it up effortlessly. The 39 Steps marked Mitchell’s New Zealand theatre debut, and she played her three roles amusingly with credible accents. Chin and Lane were phenomenal in the delivery of their distinct and outrageous characters, both playing more than 70 characters each, often several at once.
Divided into two acts, the play kept up the momentum throughout, thanks to Toni Garson’s direction. Garson has experience in all aspects of theatre and her direction was terrific given the multiple characters and many scenes she had to navigate.
Voice projection was noticeably better in Act Two. The components of the set transitioned smoothly between scenes with the help of a busy stage crew. Multiple quick changes, often on stage, meant that the costumes had to be recognisable, transformative and adaptable to various actors.
The 39 Steps is an entertaining, fast-paced theatrical frolic that will completely distract you from the year that is 2020.
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