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The 39 Steps

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Criterion Theatre · London

When a mysterious woman is murdered in his London flat, a bored bachelor becomes the prime suspect and flees to the Scottish Highlands.

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ComedyThriller

The story

Patrick Barlow's comic adaptation of John Buchan's novel and the Hitchcock film follows Richard Hannay in 1935 as he runs from the police and enemy agents to expose a spy ring called the 39 Steps and clear his name. Along the way he is forced to give a public speech, shelters with a crofter's young wife, and ends up handcuffed to Pamela, who is convinced he is a murderer.

In the room

Four actors play everything, one as Hannay, one as all three women and two clowns taking every other part, with chases, a train journey and a bridge escape conjured from ladders, trunks, doors and quick changes.

Good fit if you like

Hitchcock thrillers, spy-story parody and nimble physical comedy.

Details

From 14 Sept 2006

Running time not recorded.

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Cast & crew

No cast or crew recorded yet.

Details are edited by First Night.