“The 39 Steps” By Patrick Barlow; From the novel by John Buchan and adapted from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Directed by Courtney Sale; Presented by The Merrimack Repertory Theatre at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, 50 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA. Performances through Oct. 2nd.
by Tom Boudrot
Expectation is so much a part of the entertainment experience. Case in point: I’ve often looked back at movies whose release I’ve eagerly anticipated, only to be disappointed with for them not living up to the hype. Likewise, I have sat down to more than a few movies with zero expectations, and when they turned out to actually be good it amplified the enjoyment to the point where I have probably given the movie more accolades than it deserved.
So when I saw that the classic murder/spy/mystery, The 39 Steps, was coming to Lowell, I jumped at the chance to see it. I am, and have always been, a mystery story fan. I’ve read this story twice in my life, including once recently coincidentally, and I’ve seen the Hitchcock movie. Unfortunately, this is not your grandfather’s 39 Steps.
If like me, you planned on going to the theater and snuggling down into your warm seat and getting lost in a classic Hithcockian spy thriller and the inevitable saving of the day, you may be sorely disappointed.
My first sign of something amiss was the graphic on the front of the program, as seen above. “Hilarious Whodunit”? “Quick-Change Comedy”?? “Zany Farce”??? Had I stepped into an alternate universe, where up was down and Hitchcock was “Zany”? Turns out, my first mistake was in not doing my homework. Like say, going to the Theater Mirror website before buying tickets to a show! Wink, Wink.
When my editor offered up this gem I felt it was right in my wheelhouse and I never even thought to “check it out” before volunteering.
The result for me was honestly a mild disappointment. I had to look around the audience and see what other people’s reactions were like and while I did see a few folks staring curiously, I suspect they may have fallen into the same pitfall as I.
The good news is even when you go to this season-opening performance with a different set of expectations, it still delivers an entertaining night. It turns out John Buchan’s very British classic melodrama was turned into a lively, slapstick, vaudevillian comedy full of laughs and boundless energy, and only remotely acquainted with the original story.
This troupe of four actors works up quite a sweat (literally) while playing upwards of one hundred different characters in a fast-paced, silly comedy mystery. Rapid-fire dialogue, quick-changes in costume and locations through the inventive use of a minimum of props will keep you focused on the action even when the story becomes very muddy. Intermission may come as a welcome chance to catch your breath.
Richard Nguyen Sloniker is the appropriately handsome and dashing hero, Richard Hannay, who is dragged into a series of wild adventures, including being framed for murder at the outset. Tom Coiner brings the most energy of all to his characters, and that’s saying something in this grueling two-hour marathon of verbal and physical laughs. Together, he and Mr. Sloniker capture the feel of watching a Monty Python outing.
Ken Robinson is the most understated of the four, but bring some of the play’s funniest moments using just his eyebrows. And Margaret Ivey is adorable and hilarious in all of her character roles, which are many and integral to the plot, such as it is.
If it’s a night of London fog-filled mystery/spy drama you’re looking for – look elsewhere. But for a night of laughs from a group of actors working their hearts out for you, the season-opening offering from MRT is a welcome night out. For tickets and information, go to: https://mrt.org/
