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'{{Other uses|The 39 Steps (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox play | name = The 39 Steps | image = 39 steps.jpg | image_size = 180px | caption = | writer = [[Patrick Barlow]] | genre = [[Comedy]]/[[parody]] | publisher = [[Samuel French, Inc.]] | setting = 1930s England and Scotland | subject = | premiere = 17 June 2005 | place = [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]]<br>[[Leeds]] | orig_lang = English | web = http://www.love39steps.com/home.html | ibdb_id = 469215 }}Hello everybody we are here today to talk about the 39 steps, which is a very interesting play! Whoooooooooooooooooooo! Fin. By Lewis, Natasha and Olivia! '''''The 39 Steps''''' is a [[melodrama]] adapted from the [[The Thirty-nine Steps|1915 novel]] by [[John Buchan]] and the [[The 39 Steps (1935 film)|1935 film]] by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].<ref name="zeldes">{{Cite web | last = Zeldes | first = Leah A. | authorlink = Leah A. Zeldes | title = 'Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps' a thrilling melodrama | work = Dining Chicago | publisher = Chicago's Restaurant & Entertainment Guide, Inc. | date = 2010-05-20 | url = http://www.diningchicago.com/blog/2010/05/20/alfred-hitchcocks-the-39-steps-a-thrilling-farce/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2010-05-22}}</ref> [[Patrick Barlow]] wrote the adaptation, based on the original concept by [[Simon Corble]] and Nobby Dimon of a two-actor version of the play. Barlow had originally intended to portray the character of Richard Hannay, but focused solely on rewriting the original version.<ref name="Brown">{{cite news | author=Joel Brown | title=4 actors, 150 roles add up to ''39 Steps'' | url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/09/16/4_actors_150_roles_add_up_to_39_steps/?page=full | work=Boston Globe | date=16 September 2007 | accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> The play's concept calls for the entirety of the 1935 adventure film ''[[The 39 Steps (1935 film)#Plot|The 39 Steps]]'' to be performed with a cast of only four. One actor plays the hero, Richard Hannay, an actress (or sometimes actor) plays the three women with whom he has romantic entanglements, and two other actors play every other character in the show: heroes, villains, men, women, children and even the occasional inanimate object. This often requires lightning fast [[quick-change]]s and occasionally for them to play multiple characters at once. Thus the film's serious spy story is played mainly for laughs, and the script is full of allusions to (and puns on the titles of) other Alfred Hitchcock films, including ''[[Rear Window]]'', ''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'', ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]'' and ''[[North by Northwest]]''.<ref name="zeldes" /> ==Production history== The first version of the play with a cast of four actors premiered in June 2005 at the [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]],<ref>{{cite news | author=Kate Bassett | title=''The 39 Steps'', West Yorkshire, Playhouse, Leeds | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/reviews/the-39-steps-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds-497445.html | work=The Independent | date=3 July 2005 | accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Sam Marlowe | title=The 39 Steps | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article611828.ece | work=The Times | date=18 August 2006 | accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> directed by Fiona Buffini.<ref name="Rees">{{cite news | author=Jasper Rees | title=The 39 Steps from Leeds to Broadway | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/08/18/nosplit/btsteps118.xml | work=Telegraph | date=18 August 2007 | accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> The featured actors were Robert Whitelock, Lisa Jackson, Simon Gregor and Mark Hadfield.<ref>{{cite news | author=Lynne Walker | title=''The 39 Steps'', West Yorkshire, Playhouse, Leeds | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/reviews/the-39-steps-west-yorkshire-playhouse-leeds-498321.html | work=The Independent | date=11 July 2005 | accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> Maria Aitken directed the revised production in its London premiere at the [[Tricycle Theatre]] (London),<ref>{{cite news | author=Dominic Cavendish | title=Irreverent romp down the nostalgia track | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/08/18/btsteps18.xml | work=Telegraph | date=18 August 2006 | accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> which opened on 10 August 2006 titled ''John Buchan's The 39 Steps''.<ref name="Brantley">{{cite news | author=Ben Brantley | title=Spies, Blonde and a Guy Go North by Northwest | url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/theater/reviews/16steps.html | work=The New York Times | date=16 January 2008 | accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> The cast for the London premiere comprised [[Rupert Degas]], [[Charles Edwards (English actor)|Charles Edwards]], Simon Gregor and [[Catherine McCormack]]. The production transferred to the [[Criterion Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] in September 2006.<ref>{{cite news | author=Brian Logan | title=The 39 Steps (Criterion, London) | url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1880605,00.html | work=The Guardian | date=23 September 2006 | accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> On August 27, 2008 a Spanish production opened at Maravillas Theatre in Madrid directed by Eduardo Bazo and starring Gabino Diego, Jorge de Juan, Diego Molero and [[Patricia Conde]] (later replaced by Beatriz Rico). ===United States premiere=== The play had its U.S. premiere at the Boston University Theatre, by the Huntington Theater Company, in [[Boston]] on September 19, 2007.<ref name="Brown"/><ref>{{cite news | author=Louise Kennedy | title=Hitch a ride | url=http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/09/21/hitch_a_ride/ | work=Boston Globe | date=21 September 2007 | accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> Billed as ''Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps'', it opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in a [[Roundabout Theatre]] production at the [[American Airlines Theatre]], with previews beginning January 4, 2008 and the official opening on January 15, 2008.<ref name="Brantley"/> The initial run concluded on March 29, 2008, and transferred to the [[Cort Theatre]] on April 29, 2008 and then transferred to the [[Helen Hayes Theatre]] on January 21, 2009.<ref>Jones, Kenneth.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125391.html "The Chase Is Back On! 39 Steps Begins at Broadway's Helen Hayes"], playbill.com, January 21, 2009</ref> Aitken also directed the United States productions, and Edwards transferred to these productions as Richard Hannay, the only actor from the UK cast to do so. The other actors in the premiere US productions were [[Jennifer Ferrin]], Arnie Burton and Cliff Saunders. Edwards concluded his run on July 6, 2008, and [[Sam Robards]] took over the role of Richard Hannay.<ref>{{cite news | author=Robert Simonson | title=Charles in Charge | url=http://www.playbill.com/features/article/118353.html | work=Playbill | date=4 June 2008 | accessdate=2008-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Kenneth Jones | title=Sam Robards Is the Next Pursued Man of Broadway's ''39 Steps'' | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118367.html | work=Playbill | date=4 June 2008 | accessdate=2008-06-14}}</ref> Jeffrey Kuhn and Francesca Faridany joined the cast on October 28, 2008.<ref>Jones, Kenneth.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122738.html "Broadway's 39 Steps Gets Two New Zanies Starting Oct. 28"], playbill.com, October 28, 2008</ref> In December 2008 it was announced that [[Sean Mahon]] would take over the role of Richard Hannay. The show had its final Broadway performance on 10 January 2010 after 771 performances, "the longest-running Broadway play in seven years" (according to the writer for Playbill.com).<ref>Jones, Kenneth.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/133063-The_Chase_Ends%21_Broadway%27s_39_Steps_Will_Close_in_January_2010 The Chase Ends! Broadway's 39 Steps Will Close in January 2010"] playbill.com, September 21, 2009</ref><ref name="BroadwayWorld.com, 21 January 2010">[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE_39_STEPS_to_ReOpen_OffBroadway_20100121 BroadwayWorld.com, 21 January 2010]</ref> ''The 39 Steps'' transferred to the [[off-Broadway]] venue [[New World Stages]], reopening on 25 March 2010.<ref name="BroadwayWorld.com, 21 January 2010"/> ===Awards=== The play won the [[Olivier Award]] for ''Best Comedy in 2007'' and the What's On Stage Award for ''Best Comedy 2007''. The 2008 Roundabout Broadway production won the 2008 [[Drama Desk Award]] for Unique Theatrical Experience and Outstanding Lighting Design (Kevin Adams). It won two [[Tony Award]]s on June 15, 2008 for [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design|Best Lighting Design]] and [[Tony Award for Best Sound Design|Best Sound Design]]. It was nominated for four other Tonys: Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (Maria Aitken), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Peter McKintosh) and Best Costume Design of a Play (Peter McKintosh). ===Film references & production notes=== The play shares the plot and characters with the film. However, the play is a more comic treatment of the story, in the style of [[Monty Python]] and Barlow's own [[National Theatre of Brent]],<ref>{{cite news | author=Paul Taylor | title=''The 39 Steps'', Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre/reviews/the-39-steps-tricycle-theatre-kilburn-london-411991.html | work=The Independent | date=15 August 2006 | accessdate=2008-04-06}}</ref> compared to the original and more serious film. The play incorporates references and use of music excerpts from other Hitchcock films. As well, the cast of four actors portrays between 100 and 150 roles, including actors doubling parts within the same scene.<ref name="Brown"/><ref name="Rees"/><ref name="Brantley"/> The quick, comic changes are reminiscent of [[Charles Ludlam]]'s ''[[The Mystery of Irma Vep]]''.<ref name="zeldes" /> The part of Richard Hannay is the only one where the actor does not double in another role in the play. ==Plot== Richard Hannay is at a London theatre, attending a demonstration of the remarkable powers of "Mr. Memory", a man with a [[photographic memory]], when a fight breaks out and shots are fired. In the ensuing panic, he finds himself holding the hand of the frightened Annabella Schmidt, who talks him into taking her back to his flat. There, she tells him that she is a spy, being chased by assassins out to kill her. She says that she has uncovered a plot to steal vital British military secrets, implemented by a man with the top joint missing from one of his fingers, who is the head of an espionage organisation called the "39 Steps". The next day, Hannay wakes up to find her dead, stabbed with his bread knife. He sneaks out of the flat disguised as a milkman and takes a train to Scotland, where she had told him she was going to find the man. On the train, he sees the police on his trail. In desperation, he enters a compartment and kisses the sole occupant, the attractive Pamela, in an attempt to escape detection. She, however manages to free herself from his unwanted embrace and betrays him to the law. He jumps from the train onto the Forth Rail Bridge and escapes. He stays the night with a poor older farmer and his younger wife who flirts with Hannay. The next morning, he leaves in the farmer's Sunday coat, and calls at the house the woman had told him of. There he finds the man with the missing finger-joint, the seemingly respectable Professor Jordan, who shoots him after a brief conversation and leaves him for dead. Fortunately for Hannay, the bullet is unable to pierce the farmer's prayer-book, left in a coat pocket, and Hannay flees once more. He goes to the police, but they refuse to accept his story, since they know Jordan well. Hannay jumps through a window and escapes into the crowd. He tries to hide himself in a political meeting where he is mistaken for the keynote speaker. He subsequently gives a rather rousing impromptu speech without knowing a single thing about the candidate he is introducing, but then he is recognised by Pamela, who gives him up once more. They are handcuffed together and taken away by "policemen". Hannay eventually realises they are agents of the conspiracy when they bypass the nearest police station. When the car is forced to stop, he escapes, dragging an unwilling Pamela along. They travel cross country, and stay the night at an inn. The girl still not believing Hannay's story. While he sleeps, she slips out of the handcuffs, but then eavesdrops on one of the fake policemen on the telephone downstairs; the conversation confirms Hannay's assertions. She returns to the room and sleeps on a sofa. Next morning, she tells him what she heard, and is sent to London to pass it on to the police. No secrets have been reported missing however, so they do nothing to help. Instead, they follow her to get to Hannay. She leads them to Mr. Memory's show at the [[London Palladium]], where the police close in on the fugitive. When the performer is introduced, Hannay recognises his theme music - it is the annoyingly catchy tune he has not been able to forget for days. Hannay puts two and two together and realises that Mr. Memory is how the spies are smuggling the secrets out: he has them memorized. As the police take him into custody, he shouts out a question about the 39 Steps. When Mr. Memory compulsively begins to answer, Jordan shoots him and tries to flee, but is shot as well. The dying Mr. Memory recites the information stored in his brain, a design for silent aircraft, and Hannay and the girl stroll off, hand in hand. ==Roles== {| class="wikitable" !Role !World Premiere Cast</br>17 June 2005</br>[[West Yorkshire Playhouse]], [[Leeds]] !London Premiere Cast</br>10 August 2006</br>[[Tricycle Theatre]], London !USA Premiere Cast</br>19 September 2007</br>[[Huntington Theatre Company]], [[Boston]] !Madrid Premiere Cast</br>27 August 2008</br>Teatro Maravillas, [[Madrid]] !Paris Premiere Cast</br>10 October 2010</br>Théâtre La Bruyère, Paris |- |[[Richard Hannay]] |Robert Whitelock |colspan=2 align=center|[[Charles Edwards (English actor)|Charles Edwards]] |Jorge de Juan |Christophe Laubion |- |Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret |Lisa Jackson |[[Catherine McCormack]] |[[Jennifer Ferrin]] |[[Patricia Conde]] |Andrea Bescond |- |Clown / Man #1 |colspan=2 align=center|Simon Gregor |Cliff Saunders |Gabino Diego |[http://www.fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Éric_Métayer Eric Metayer] |- |Clown / Man #2 |Mark Hadfield |[[Rupert Degas]] |Arnie Burton |Diego Molero |Jean-Philippe Beche |} ==Productions== [[Image:CriterionTheatre.png|thumb|right|''The 39 Steps'' currently on at the [[Criterion Theatre]] in the [[West End theatre|West End]].]] *2005, Leeds - [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]] *2006, London - [[Tricycle Theatre]] *2006, London West End - [[Criterion Theatre]] *2007, Boston - [[Huntington Theatre]] *2007, Edinburgh - [[Edinburgh Playhouse]] *2008, Windsor - [[Theatre Royal, Windsor|Windsor Theatre]] *2008, New York City, Broadway - [[American Airlines Theatre]], [[Cort Theatre]], [[Helen Hayes Theatre]] *2008, Melbourne - Playhouse, [[Victorian Arts Centre]] ([[Melbourne Theatre Company]]) *2008, Aachen - [[Grenzlandttheater]], first performance in German *2008, Tel Aviv - [[Habima Theatre]], in Hebrew *2008, Hong Kong - Lyric Theatre, [[Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts]] *2008, Mexico City - Ramiro Jiménez Theatre *2008, Athens - Knossos Theatre, Greek adaptation *2008, Madrid - Maravillas Theatre, in Spanish *2009, Sydney - Glenn Street Theatre *2009, Brisbane - [[Twelfth Night Theatre]] *2009, South Korea - Sejong Arts Center *2009, Wellington - [[Circa Theatre]] *2009, La Jolla - [[La Jolla Playhouse]] (beginning of US tour) *2009, Seattle - Seattle Repertory Theater *2009, Warsaw, Poland - Teatr Komedia (in Polish) *2010, Houston - [[Alley Theatre]] *2010, Gananoque, Ontario - [[The Thousand Islands Playhouse]] (Canadian Premiere) *2010, Buenos Aires, Argentina - Teatro Piccadilly *2010, Ceder City, Utah, USA - [[Utah Shakespearean Festival]] *2010, Orlando, Florida, USA -- [[Orlando Shakespeare Theater]] *2010, Ft. Worth, Texas, USA - [[Stage West Theater]] *2010, Denver, Colorado, USA - [[Denver Center Theater Company]] *2010, São Paulo,Brazil - Teatro Frei Caneca *2010, Dayton, Ohio - [[Human Race Theatre Company]] *2010, Cumming, Georgia - [[West Forsyth High School]] *2010, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - City Theatre *2010, Austin, Texas, USA - Austin Playhouse *2010, Syracuse, New York - Syracuse Stage *2010, Minneapolis, Minnesota - [[Guthrie Theater]] *2010, Westport, New York - Depot Theatre *2010, Bowness-on-Winderemere, Cumbria - [http://www.oldlaundrytheatre.co.uk/ Old Laundry Theatre] *2010, Vertigo Theatre, Calgary, Alberta *2011, Cotuit, Massachusetts (Cape Cod) - [http://www.cotuitcenterforthearts.org/ Cotuit Center for the Arts] *2011, Plymouth, New Hampshire - [[Plymouth Regional High School]] *2011, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - [[Milwaukee Repertory Theater Company]] *2011, Makati City, Philippines-Greenbelt,Ayala Center *2011, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Arts Center of Coastal Carolina *2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - Walnut Street Theater *2011, Gainesville, Florida, USA - [[Hippodrome State Theatre]] *2011, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - [[Indianapolis Reperatory Theatre]] *2011, Palmerston North, New Zealand - Centrepoint Theatre *2011, Nashville, Tennessee, USA - [[Tennessee Repertory Theatre]] ([[Tennessee Performing Arts Center]]) *2011, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, AUS- [[Jetty Memorial Theatre]] [[Seacrest Productions]] *2011, Aberdeen - [http://www.aberdeenartscentre.org.uk/ Aberdeen Arts Centre] *2011, Memphis, Tennessee - Playhouse on the Square *2011, Titchfield, Hampshire, England - St Margaret's Arts Centre, Titchfield Festival Theatre *2011, Saugatuck, MI - Mason Street Warehouse (www.masonstreetwarehouse.org) *2011, Abingdon, VA - [[Barter Theatre]], Barter Theatre Stage II *2011, South Boston, VA - The Prizery *2011, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada - [[Capitol Theatre (Port Hope)]] *2011, Charlottesville, Virginia - Culbreth Theater, Heritage Theater Festival *2011, Boston, MA - The Boston Teen Acting Troupe *2011, Montevideo, Uruguay - Gran Teatro Metro *2011, Juneau, Alaska, USA - [[Perseverance Theatre]] (www.perseverancetheatre.org) *2011, Sutton Coldfield, UK - Sutton Arts Theatre *2011, Reading, UK - [[Progress Theatre]] *2011, Springfield, MO (United States) - The Contemporary Theatre in the Landers Building *2011, Barcelona, Spain - Teatre Capitol *2011, Ipswich, Queensland, AUS - Ipswich Little Theatre *2011, Fargo, North Dakota, (United States)--Theatre B *2011, Gateshead, UK - Little Theatre *2012, Olney, MD - [[Olney Theatre Center for the Arts]] *2012, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin - [[Oconomowoc Arts Center]] *2012, Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona - [[Arizona Theatre Company]] *2012 Leicester England - The Little Theatre *2012, [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Saskatchewan]] - [[Globe Theatre, Regina|The Globe Theatre]] *2012, [[Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]], Canada - [[Persephone Theatre]] *2012, [[Whitehorse, Yukon]], Canada - The Guild Society *2012, Shanghai, China, [[Shanghai American School]] *2012, Tallahassee, Florida [[Tallahassee Little Theatre]] *2012, Santa Rosa, California (6th Street Theater) *2012, [[Tampa, Florida]], [[Straz Center for the Performing Arts]] - [[Jobsite Theater]] *2012, [[Newport, Kentucky]], Falcon Theatre *2012, [La Mirada, California][La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts] *2012, [[Calgary, Alberta]], Canada - Stage West Theatre Restaurants (January 26 - April 1) *2102, Nantucket, Massachusetts - [http://www.theatreworkshop.com/ Nantucket Theater Workshop] (July 11–28) *2012, Orem, Utah, [[Hale Center Theater]] (December 31 - February 11) *2012, Coppell, Texas [Theatre Coppell] *2012, Dubai, United Arab Emirates [Backstage Theatre Group] *2012, [[Manasquan, New Jersey]], [[Algonquin Arts Theater]] *2012, Perth, Western Australia - Old Mill Theatre, directed by Susie Conte *2012, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois - Drury Lane Theatre ===Current West End Cast=== As of November 23, 2011, the London West End cast is as follows: * Ian Hughes - Man * [[Catherine Bailey]] - Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret * [[Stephen Critchlow]] - Man * Andrew Alexander - [[Richard Hannay]] ==Awards and nominations== ; Awards * 2007 [[Laurence Olivier Award]] for Best New Comedy * 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (Kevin Adams) * 2008 [[Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience]] * 2008 [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Play]] (Kevin Adams) * 2008 Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play (Mic Pool) * 2009 [[Helpmann Award for Best Regional Touring Production]] ; Nominations * 2008 [[Tony Award for Best Play]] * 2008 [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play]] (Maria Aitken) * 2008 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play (Peter McKintosh) * 2008 Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play (Peter McKintosh) * 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Sound Design (Mic Pool) ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== * {{ibdb title|469215|The 39 Steps}} *[http://www.love39steps.com/ Official home page of the play] *[http://www.39stepsonBroadway.com Broadway website] {{DramaDesk UniqueTheatricalExperience 2001–2025}} {{HelpmannAward RegionalTouring 2007-2020}} {{OlivierAward Comedy 2001–2025}} {{Richard Hannay}} {{DEFAULTSORT:39 Steps}} [[Category:2006 plays]] [[Category:Broadway plays]] [[Category:Comedy plays]] [[Category:Off-Broadway plays]] [[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winning plays]] [[Category:Plays based on books]] [[Category:Plays based on films]] [[Category:West End plays]] [[de:The 39 Steps (Bühnenwerk)]] [[it:The 39 Steps (Barlow)]]'