Hitchcock, Monty Python & Spies: THE 39 STEPS

Title
The 39 Steps.

Author
Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan. Based on the Alfred Hitchcock movie and an original concept by Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble.

What It’s All About
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This 2-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance!

In The 39 Steps, a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she’s a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps” is hot on the man’s trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure!

Why You Should Do This Play
The 39 Steps is an undeniable hit wherever it plays. It has inspired countless imitations since its 2008 Broadway debut but none come close to the original. It’s been running near-continuously in New York since then and played to acclaim in professional and amateur houses around the world, thanks no doubt to its accessibility to audiences and theatres alike. It’s a crowd-pleaser in front of the curtain — full of classic physical comedy and rapid-fire references to the entire Hitchcock oeuvre — but backstage it’s a chance for actors and production teams to showcase their talents on a bare stage with a minimum of set pieces and costumes.

The Particulars
Adaption, 3m/1f, Full Length Play, Comedy, Farce, Adventure, Mystery/Thriller, Period — 1930s, Physical Comedy, Unit Set/Multiple Settings, Bare Stage/Simple Set.

Need to Know
West End: Criterion Theatre, 2006
Broadway: Roundabout Theatre, 2008
Off-Broadway: New World Stages, 2010 & Union Square Theatre, 2015

2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy
6 Time Tony Award Nominee in 2008 for Best Play, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design (winner), Best Sound Design (winner).
2008 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience