[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of ELATE’s The 39 Steps, from the novel by John Buchan, from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock, adapted by Patrick Barlow and directed by Vsevolod Yuri Krawczeniuk.
I first saw the staged adaptation of The 39 Steps at the underground Criterion Theatre in London’s West End many years ago. I was in town for the weekend and took a chance, rolled up to the box office in the afternoon, scored a couple of tickets for next to nothing. Then, that very same night, I was gloriously ensconced in my tiny theatre seat up in the gods at the most iconic theatre in London. However, I had no idea what I was in for…it was one of the best theatre experiences of my life.
So when I was asked to see Elate’s own version of this extraordinary story, made for the stage by Patrick Barlow, I was thrilled. Elate always puts their heart and soul into all their plays so I knew I would enjoy it at their lovely theatre which curiously is also underground.
The concept of the play version of The 39 Steps, adapted from the book for the Hitchcock film, is very tongue in cheek. It’s a parody really, although there’s a real love for the original film threaded through it. Traditionally the characters are all supposed to be played by only four actors, some playing several roles at once in the same scene…which is hilarious. One actor plays Richard Hannay, the hero and only him, and the other three actor sharing all the other roles. It sounds absolutely mad, and it is, but it works brilliantly.
The 39 Steps is a fast-paced thrilling story of Nazis, spies, murder and love and is a perfect ruse for this campy, black and white, old Hollywood style show.
This Elate cast has a couple of extra actors to help the story along…it is a very heavy lift for three people to play all these roles, especially with wildly differing accents. From clipped posh English to cockney to Scottish and German, sometimes all in the same sentence by the same actor. But they really did a fine job untangling it all and I only winced a couple of times at the English! But that’s the utter joy of this play and the wonder of doing it. It’s a frolic. An adventure. A brilliant excuse for over acting and ridiculous accents. I love it personally and Elate’s version was a true homage and an awful lot of fun.
We need fun don’t we! I know I do. A distraction from all the crazy in the world and The 39 Steps is the absolute perfect distraction.
Bravo to Elate and all these brave highly capable actors for taking this on! And thank you for doing every bit of it the justice it deserves!
Where:
Elate Theatre
6020 Radford Ave, North Hollywood
When:
February 21-March 9
Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM, Sundays at 2PM
Tickets:
https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/elate/the-39-steps
The The 39 Steps Cast
Bob Arnold, Elijah Barnes, Hannah Crowe, Lynn De Young, Mae Linh Fatum, Carter Graves
About ELATE
ELATE (Emmanuel Lutheran Actors Ensemble) originated in the spring of 1984 with the initial production of the “The Miracle Worker”. ELATE shows were originally produced on the stage of the Parish Hall of Laurel Hall School. In June of 1991, the group converted a little used lecture hall in the basement of Emmanuel Lutheran Church’s administration building at 6020 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Ca into the Lincoln Stegman Theater. This lecture hall became ELATE’s main stage. ELATE has produced over 100 shows at Parish Hall and the Lincoln Stegman Theater. “ 39 Steps” Adapted by Patrick Barlow will be our 111th production.