The 39 Steps – Theatre Royal, Glasgow

Writer: Patrick Barlow, based on the book by John Buchan

Directors: (Original) Maria Aitken and (Tour) Nicola Samer

Patrick Barlow’s Olivier and Tony Award-winning take on John Buchan’s classic tale of derring-do, The 39 Steps, has been doing the rounds in its current form since 2006. Featuring a cast of four playing 139 roles in a mere 95 minutes, the breath-taking inventiveness never fails to entertain, and the break-neck speed and impeccable timing ensures that there’s no moment where the interest falters.

Based the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film version of the 1915 book, our hero Richard Hannay (Jacob Daniels) flees to Scotland after the glamorous spy (Safeena Ladha) he’s just met is murdered in his London flat. With stiff upper lip, starched collar, the latest Harris Tweed suit, a dashing pencil moustache firmly glued on, and the fetching femme fatale’s last words ringing in his ears, he heads off to catch a German espionage ring, clear his name, oh, and send a few female hearts a-quivering on the way.

This high-energy Boys Own yarn retains all of the charm and wit it possessed when it first appeared nearly twenty years ago: our hero displaying derring-do and demonstrating daring deeds to defeat the dastardly baddies.

Much of the success of the piece lies in the originality of its design and staging (and multi-talented actors of course). The cast of four change clothes, wigs and accents in the blink of an eye, suitcases and trunks become train carriages and ladders become the soaring Forth Rail Bridge. We are transported over hill, bog and glen and from farmhouse to the London Palladium with shadow puppets or the swish of a (shower) curtain. The physical gags are a treat. There’s an added thrill too for Hitchcock fans who can spend the night spotting the references to the director’s other works (there’s even an appearance from the man himself) and while many productions have tried to replicate the witty staging and direction, the original remains the best.

As our hero Hannay, Daniels has exemplary comic timing and charm as do Eugene McCoy and Maddie Rice, who garner the lion’s share of the laughs as an astonishing array of both male and female characters. Ladha too flips from exotic spy Annabella to the very proper English rose Pamela with admirable aplomb. The entire production is briskly directed by Nicola Samer.

The 39 Steps proves that a thrilling tale, no matter it’s age, will always entertain. This is clever, warm, irreverent, engaging and above all, laugh-out-loud funny. If it’s a good giggle and an evening’s escapism you’re after then this fast-paced spy-spoof is still a sure-fire winner. It remains a rip-roaring theatrical treat.

Runs until 1 June 2024 then continues touring | Image: Mark Singer