Savannah Rep wears many hats in wacky adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The 39 Steps’

Savannah Rep are bringing a hilarious and irreverent adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, “The 39 Steps,” to stage, and whether you are familiar with the source material or not, it promises to be a breathlessly fun experience.

The stage version of “The 39 Steps” was adapted by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon in 1995 (later rewritten by Patrick Barlow in 2005) and debuted at the Georgia Theatre Royal in Richmond, Yorkshire. It is a parody of the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the subsequent 1935 Hitchcock film. The plot revolves around a man living a listless and boring life who meets a mysterious woman with a strange accent who claims to be a spy. When he takes the woman home she ends up murdered. The man then finds himself pursued on a nationwide manhunt by a mysterious organization called The 39 Steps, which leads to a thrilling, death-defying climax.

The Savannah Rep production of “The 39 Steps” stars Jordan Jones, Francesca Mintowt-Czyz, Justice von Maur, and Nathan Houseman. Director Karla Knudsen ("The Christians", "King Lear") has nothing but glowing praise for her small and talented cast.

“[They are] tireless, hilarious, fast, forgiving, multi-talented, double-jointed, hungry, humble, real and ready,” said Knudsen. “Shall I go on? I swear, they’ll levitate if you ask them to. ‘The 39 Steps’ asks four actors to play many many roles through 33 scenes, affecting copious dialects with Olympian stamina. The sheer number of hats is dizzying. We’re fortunate enough to have two understudies as well who are learning multiple actor tracks. The level of generosity and ability to problem-solve in the room, makes each rehearsal extremely productive—which I see as a form of respect.”

Much of the exhilaration and humor of “The 39 Steps” is generated by the high wire act of the small cast switching between more than 100 roles at breakneck speed while keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

“Don’t we all just want to be surprised?,” said Knudsen. “It’s why I go to the theatre or see a film or engage with art, I think. I love being duped. So when a high status character gets unexpectedly thwarted, or an objective meets an unforeseen obstacle, our preconceived notion of the formula gets sucker punched. An actor who can do this quickly and often in heightened circumstances knows that much of the comedy of life comes from these inherent opposites. We’re finding that ‘The 39 Steps’ brand of comedy is reliant on the pace of the role-switching and takes careful orchestration. It’s about the music. …and the silly costumes. Lots and lots of silly costumes.”

Quick costume and character changes are not the only challenge for the rapid-fire production. Getting all of the technical stage elements in the room working quickly with the actors is the biggest challenge for Knudsen and her production crew.

“It’s also one of the reasons I love working with the Rep,” explained Knudsen. “Every minute is valued and purposeful. Such a short rehearsal process—two weeks, plus tech—requires a laser-focus both in and out of rehearsal. Our stage manager and Savannah Rep founder, Jenn Bishop, is a consummate time keeper. She juggles the communication between all the moving parts of production, making everyone’s job more streamlined.”

So. Much. Laughter. And Twists.

Although the play is a comedy, it is still a spy caper in the Hitchcockian mold, full of plot twists and mystery. Hardcore Alfred Hitchcock fans will have fun picking out references to Hitchcock’s other films including “Stranger’s on a Train,” “Psycho,” “Rear Window,” and “North By Northwest,” as well as allusions to Hitchcock’s auteur style. (If only Hitchcock could make one of his trademark cameos.)

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“Well, the title itself, is the classic Hitchcockian MacGuffin in this piece,” said Knudsen. “It’s the mysterious thing that pulls the plot along. If you’re familiar with the Hitchcock cannon, you’ll see and hear more than a few references built right in. We are taking our design cues from his film noir world and augmenting that in the blocking—exploiting the mechanics of theatre-making. To me, this piece hinges on the fact that we are re-creating a film on stage with a couple of ladders and trunks. To that end, we are casting the audience as Hitchcock’s camera lens, changing angles by moving the actors, scenery, and lighting to affect his distinctive camera work.”

Knudsen suggests you Google “Dutch angle” for an example of the film tricks they employ on stage.

“The 39 Steps” is running from May 18-28 at Jenkins Hall at Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus. Whether you are a fan of films or theater, there is a lot enjoy in this wild adaptation of a Hitchcock classic.

There are thrills, chills, and action, but Knudsen loves “The 39 Steps” for the other quality it offers.

“So. Much. Laughter.,” said Knusden. “And the movement of humans in a space that we get to define is pure joy.

If You Go >>

What: Savannah Rep presents "The 39 Steps"

When: May 18-28

Where: Jenkins Hall at Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus, 11935 Abercorn St.

Cost: $35-40

Info: savannahrep.org

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Rep Theatre stages Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps