The 39 Steps

As always it is a delight to come to see this group perform. Their front of house led by Linda Adair is always so welcoming and the foyer packed with awaiting audience is always good to see. Thank you for looking after us Linda, it is always much appreciated.

This production for me was by far, one of the best I have seen by Maldon Drama; Director Helen Rasmussen must be congratulated for the huge amount of work and choreography that came with this show. How she must have worked out the vast amount of scene changes and mad goings on, just showed how much she enjoyed working on this production. The comedy was completely bonkers and great, great fun.  There was excellent pace and timing from the entire cast; with the crew impeccable in their scene changing roles. 

The set was ever changing with picture frames used as windows, an armchair became a bed and the train was a flat with four wooden collapsible chairs for train seats, while the chairs were used again for the hilarious car scene. Furniture changes, whizzed around by the cast and crew, were efficient and seamless, being carried out while the action continued.  I loved the gags of the fire coming on and the phone that didn’t stop ringing when being answered; shades of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’.

 The projections of the scenery behind the train and the plane attacking Hannay on the moor were excellently done, while the lighting was well balanced and clever throughout the production. The music and sound effects were an integral part of the show being hugely instrumental in its success. Well done to Simon and Sandra Cooke for their hard work on this show. I must admit to loving the simulation of the billowing wind, during the escape along the outside of the train, with the actors shaking their coats to show the wind.

We first meet Richard Hannay, played with great finesse by Neil Fisher, while he narrates his escapades, as he encounters murder, espionage and intrigue.  On the way he meets music hall performers, very odd hoteliers, a mystery professor and very dubious policemen. Neil, who is an experienced actor, has great projection which is needed in this very large auditorium.  His manner and characterisation of the role was superb. He was extremely enjoyable to watch and had the charisma needed to take on role.

He meets the beautiful Annabella Schmitt (Michelle Edgington) who is in need of help from Hannay and she later plays Margaret, a downtrodden but mischievous crofter’s wife and at the last minute due to illness, the role of Inspector Albright.  Michelle is an accomplished actress whose accents for each of the roles were good.  I found though that just sometimes she was a little quiet when she spoke upstage. I wonder if head mikes might have been useful, as the huge auditorium and high proscenium take away so much of the sound.  The four mikes on the floor of the stage only really work when actors are nearby and definitely the sheep (Martin Adams) took great delight in baaing into them several times, to the laughter of the audience.

Hannay meets Pamela (Heather Lucas) on the train and their first meeting is a very long and passionate kiss. Heather looked stunning in her red costume and projected well.  Her beautifully spoken English accent which is perfectly suited to the time period (shades of Brief Encounter) and her portrayal of the sexually suppressed love interest was excellent.

Huge accolades go to Carey Brown and Scott Peters for the myriad of roles that they performed during the show.  I must admit I lost count on just how many different roles they played. There were so many accents both male and female, from sinister spies under lampposts to train guards, policeman and so many more which were all hilarious and superbly done. They must have been exhausted by the end of the show.

The smaller but equally important roles were for Karen Smith as Mrs Higgins/Mrs Jordan and Martin Adams as The Milkman and the hilarious sheep plus chief window holder where he couldn’t keep the smile off his face the whole time. Also a mention to Ian McDonald who held the door each time he brought it in and had a hilarious interest on what was going on. The radio announcer was Alfred Knightbridge.

Huge congratulations to all the cast and crew for this very funny, bonkers, excellent production. The audience loved it and so did we.

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