The 39 Steps
On the 3rd of February 2010 my girlfriend LibraryGirl and I attended the Connaught Theatre in Worthing to watch one of the best plays currently touring the UK, The 39 Steps based upon the novel by John Buchan.
Now I haven't been to see a play at the Connaught since 2001 when I saw Flatspin by Ayckbourn and LibraryGirl has never seen a play at the venue so this was going to be an experience for both of us.
We arrived with about 20 minutes to go before curtain up and there was a lot of people in the foyer trying to get to the refreshments kiosk, I didn't go up to Frasers bar so I didn't see how busy that was but the kiosk was busy all night but more on that later. When we picked up our tickets I went to get a programme for the show, instantly getting out a fiver I didn't expect to get much change considering the price of programmes on the West End. I was surprised to find that the programme was only £2.50 which to me is a bargain.
We entered the auditorium to find that the set for the show is visible even during the breaks and pre show; it is a false proscenium arch with a red curtain and two theatre boxes. Now I have never seen the 39 Steps the film (any of the three versions) and I have not read it either so this set piqued my interest instantly. The theatre started filling up and by the time the curtain went up I would say they were two thirds full. In fact some of the people in the audience had seen the play numerous times on the West End before and because it was touring had come to see it again, high praise indeed, I was now very excited.
Then it began.
The fourth wall is instantly broken within the first scene of the play to allow us the audience to realise we are as much a part of the play as the actors. Then all sorts of chaos break loose. The story is like an avalanche of melodrama and comedy rolling down upon the audience at break neck speed. This is well managed chaos, the type of chaos that enhances the story of the escape from the police and heightens the tension of the espionage plot. The fact that there are only 4 actors in the cast playing all the roles also feeds into the spy plot really well as you start asking yourself 'who is really who?' 'Is he a police officer or a spy?' and so on. The other part of the on stage chaos is the obvious lack of seriousness during the majority of the play, there is such a tongue in cheek feel to this piece that it feels friendly and warm and like a shared experience between audience and performer.
The acting is top notch, the way I have described the show as chaotic and lacking in seriousness probably belies the fact that it is such a tight production and obviously painstakingly rehearsed. Performances feeling as spontaneous as this are always very well rehearsed to get that feeling, you also need some very special actors who can pull it off. Luckily the cast in this show is the best.
Dugald Bruce-Lockhart who plays Richard Hannay is fantastic as the dashing and bumbling lead character. His accent reminds me of Alexander Armstrong but his entire demeanour evokes a different era, his stiff upper lip cannot get any stiffer and his British wit is cutting in its delivery.
The Olivier Award Nominated Katherine Kingsley as Annabella/Pamela/Margaret is brilliant moving from high hammy melodrama as Annabella, through soft realistic tones as Pamela to the pure romance of Margaret. Her characters are all distinctly different and if I had no idea that there was only a cast of four I would have thought there were 3 different actresses on the stage.
However good the two 'leads' are this show really belongs to Richard Braine and Dan Starkey as Man 1 & Man 2. These two play ALL the other parts in the 39 Steps, whether it is the Palladiums Compere and Mister Memory, the sinister men with lamppost (very funny) or the hotel keepers they keep the story rolling along with their fabulous acting and physical comedy. Braine is perfect in this role as his work on children’s slapstick series such as Bodger and Badger, Bernard’s Watch and Chucklevision has provided him with a lot of experience for this kind of acting. Starkey on the other hand is in many ways on a whole other level, his clowning is phenomenal, his comedic timing is bang on and his portrayal of the ancient Scottish Politician canvassing votes is perhaps the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. The energy these two exude into the piece makes this show memorable and a true theatrical event.
The actual production itself is genius; all the main set pieces are reusable in different ways. They use 3 trunks, 2 ladders, 2 chairs, 1 portable fire place and 1 wardrobe that contains a hotel bedroom! To be honest if needed the production doesn't even need the fake arch with built in boxes, it would still be extremely effective with just a bare stage and these bits of set. And therein lies the genius of this production, it is so well thought out, so well constructed and rehearsed that it could all be pared back and still be amazing. The concept for the 39 steps is just brilliant it makes me super jealous I hadn't thought of it.
So overall did we enjoy the show? Well LibraryGirl did and so did I, I absolutely loved it. It was brilliant and I wish I had bought tickets for every night because I could watch it again and again and never get bored. I recommend it to anyone as this is really a show for the whole family despite some mild violence. There is nothing offensive it just good old fashioned fun.
What about The Connaught? Well at the interval we went for ice creams, there was a long line yet I was only waiting for a minute as they had a fluid system going and it was only £1.70 each for an ice cream which is yet again another bargain. We sat in Row J seats 4 and 5 which I wouldn't recommend because its right by the entrance to the auditorium and getting out at the end was challenging as people barged past. However if you go to the venue to see a movie sit in row J in the middle for the best view in the house.
All in all a bargain night out for West End quality theatre at a fraction of the price. Will I go to the Connaught again to see a play again? Definitely.
For more info on 39 Steps see: http://www.love39steps.com/
For the Connaught see: http://www.worthingtheatres.co.uk/
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