Review by Elle Webster

FOR those expecting a Hitchcockian thriller are in for a brilliantly funny surprise as The 39 Steps visits Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre.

Patrick Barlow’s adaptation is faithful to style and tone of John Buchan’s novel rather than Hitchcock’s film adaption and the result is a breath-taking 100 minutes that has audiences laughing from the opening monologue to the final curtain.

Richard Ede is impressive as Richard Hannay, capturing the spirit of the 1930s British gentleman, who when confronted with a murder in his flat and forced to go on the run, takes the whole thing in his stride, revealing in the break from his previously mundane life.

Olivia Greene, the sole actress in the cast of four, defines each of her three characters brilliantly, in particular Pamela, who finds herself handcuffed to Ede’s Hannay for the better part of the second half.

Bringing to life the romantic entanglement of their characters, Greene and Ede’s chemistry is dazzling, whether it’s dreamily starring into one another’s eyes to fighting over the truth of a situation.

However, the true heroes of the evening are Andrew Hodges and Rob Witcomb who dash around the stage, playing multiple characters, often in the same scene, to great comedic effect.

A particular highlight comes early in the second half when the pair recreate the bustling atmosphere of a station platform, effortlessly switching between several characters in a matter of seconds, maintaining faultless accents and characterisations throughout.

The simple staging allows the audience to fill in the gaps with their imaginations and adds to the atmosphere created by the actors, and while this adaption may not follow Hitchcock’s example, it honours the master of suspense with references to several of his films.

Never taking itself too seriously, The 39 Steps at the Everyman is rip-roaring tale that leaves your sides sore from laughing.