Perhaps it鈥檚 something in the fall air. Of late, there has been a bumper crop of worthwhile theatre in Victoria. The latest is a rollicking revival of The 39 Steps, an Alfred Hitchcock parody now playing at the Roxy Theatre.
Patrick Barlow鈥檚 2005 farce spoofs Hitchcock鈥檚 spy thriller The 39 Steps, released in 1935. Barlow鈥檚 romp follows the original with surprising closeness. Yet one needn鈥檛 watch the movie 鈥� or read the original novel by John Buchan 鈥� to fully enjoy Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre鈥檚 production, directed by Jacob Richmond with panache and attention to detail.
The film, starring pencil-mustached Robert Donat, features Richard Hannay, an average Joe with a BBC accent who becomes ensnared in a spy ring. He tries to save a counterespionage agent, but she鈥檚 stabbed to death in his flat. Hannay, falsely accused of her murder, goes on the lam, fleeing both policemen and crooks to thwart international bad guys.
The play鈥檚 conceit is that a bout of salmonella has sidelined most of the cast. A frantic call for actors in the audience produces volunteers. The cast of four struggles with dozens of roles. The result is a plate-spinning mish-mash, with performers desperately changing costumes and juggling makeshift props.
In part, Barlow鈥檚 script works because he strikes a judicious balance between slapstick and honouring the original flick.
For instance, Hitchcock鈥檚 movie has a scene in which Hannay鈥檚 love interest, Pamela, removes her wet stockings. The task is complicated by the fact that the pair is handcuffed together, which means Hannay鈥檚 hand rubs up and down Pamela鈥檚 leg in a risqu茅 manner. In the play, the routine is exaggerated for laughs, but not in an over-the-top manner (no one鈥檚 bottom is groped), which makes it funnier.
A similar approach is used in the farce鈥檚 opening scene. A seductive spy (Amanda Lisman) collapses over the lap of a seated Hannay (Gabriel Macdonald) with a knife in her back. Barlow has Hannay extricate himself by executing a risible limbo move, which 鈥� while absurd 鈥� is entirely within the realm of possibility. Elsewhere, there鈥檚 a scene in which Mr. Memory (Rod Peter Jr.) correctly answers audience questions. In the parody, the vaudeville star is rewarded with sardines being popped into his mouth 鈥� a small detail that鈥檚 deft and hilarious.
One of the funniest scenes has two effeminate salesmen (Chris Mackie and Peter Jr.) on a train trading jokes, manipulating brassieres and exhibiting more than a passing interest in handsome Hannay.
This is a highly ambitious project. On a technical level, The 39 Steps demands much: a frantic cavalcade of cinematic light and sound cues, split-second costume changes, puppetry and tricky silhouette scenes. Everything was handled admirably at Wednesday鈥檚 preview performance.
Director Richmond, co-founder of the Atomic Vaudeville comedy troupe, has added plenty of his own comic touches. When Macdonald volunteers himself as an actor, he mentions he can sing Josh Groban songs. This manifests itself amusingly later on, when Hannay 鈥� speaking at a political meeting 鈥� incongruously breaks into Groban鈥檚 hit You Raise Me Up.
Later, Hannay and Pamela are kidnapped by hoods in Scotland. As they bump over the moors in a car, bagpipe versions of tunes by Smash Mouth and Journey play on the radio.
Hannay must exude a leading man鈥檚 strength and confidence, something Macdonald delivered in a solid performance. Lisman navigated various characters 鈥� Pamela, the sexy spy, a lonely Scottish housewife 鈥� very well, finding a different tone for each. Peter Jr., juggling multitudinous roles, was also strong, making all of his characters distinct while conveying a unique eccentricity throughout.
On this particular evening, the comic powerhouse was Mackie. The bearded actor attacked each part, ranging from milkman to female innkeeper, with gonzo energy and Monty Pythonesque chutzpah. One of his best turns was as a Scottish farmer who keeps yelling dementedly: 鈥淚鈥檒l see to the coos!鈥� (cows). All accents, honed by dialect coach Iris Macgregor Bannerman, are well done.
The 39 Steps continues at the Roxy Theatre to Nov. 3.
