Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Richard Ede, Olivia Greene, Andrew Hodges, Rob Witcomb.

The secrets of The 39 Steps have long been discussed, bandied around the drawing rooms of gentleman clubs and inner circles of foreign governments for such a long time that the dashing pencil moustache and rugged figure of Richard Hannay positively quivers at the thought of saving the country from the dastardly plot afoot.

It is a plot that sees master spies, murder, memory and misfortune used in equal brilliant measure and one that is captured with raised eyebrow, derring-do voice and so much laughter that John Buchan’s well suited, stiff upper lipped and quintessential hero is taken to the limit of enjoyment in Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of The 39 Steps at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.

A story that involves so many facets, so many twists and turns and roundabouts to navigate, it is no wonder that it has been successful at being lovingly parodied, yet to do it with a cast of four, that such a feat can be imagined with such daring let alone pulled off with great sincerity and abiding spirit, is both brutally cool and wonderfully imaginative; it grabs the story by the hand and shakes it vigorously, clasping hold of the funny bone at the elbow for all its might.

The four actors undertake the story with the full knowledge of the depth of gravitas required, for to take on a story regimented in the heroic boys own tale and issues surrounding the concept of international spying before the war is to pay homage to the work that was undertaken by a silent few as they readied the country against the barrage of hate to come from the Nazis and their unquestioning supporters.

With Richard Ede, Olivia Greene, Andrew Hodges and Rob Witcomb all producing sensational theatre, everything that an audience could desire from a play is there to be marvelled at, brought in from the ether and allowed to flourish and bloom like a bouquet of roses. While both Richard Ede and Olivia Greene capture the hearts of the crowd, it is to Mr. Hodges and Mr. Witcomb to whom the greatest of plaudits should be given as they perform absolute heroics in portraying virtually every other part that the story demands and as the pace and tension builds up, so to do the pairs outrageous skill of comedy timing ramp up and become a thing of joy.

The 39 Steps is a comedy of ingenuity and sparkling wit, dashing and elegant, one that just typifies the work of genius on stage.

Ian D. Hall