The 39 Steps - Reviews
NODA Show Report - The 39 Steps
Author: Decia Ranger
Date: 17th May 2025
Society: Much Hadham Drama Group
Venue: Much Hadham Village Hall
Type of Production: Play
Director: Will Jamieson
Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of John Buchan’s novel is a spoof spy thriller. It was originally written for four actors, one of whom has the principal role, while the others all take various parts, as well as their named character. Here we had a cast of eight, an option available to amateur theatre. Not only does this spread the load, so to speak, it also enables more group members to take part in this hilarious play.
The play was well cast with all the actors being fully immersed in their various roles which required multiple adjustments to costumes. This must have been quite the job for back stage which was obviously extremely well organised or absolute chaos!
Ollie Robinson is a very talented young actor and his performance as Richard Hannay was nothing short of amazing. He was on stage almost all the time and the delivery of his dialogue throughout was faultless, He also had the RP one would expect of a 37 year old man-about-town in the 1930’s, together with the mannerisms. It was good to be able to have a few words with Ollie at the end of the evening and to know that he hopes to continue with his acting, which he obviously enjoys. The group is very lucky to have him on their books!
The rest of the cast really worked their socks off and proved themselves to be extremely adept at taking on multiple roles. As well as the numerous costume changes, there was ageing and accents to get to grips with as required. In fact, there were many things to juggle as the cast swapped from character to character and every one of them is to be congratulated. I must though give a mention here to Mr Memory, played by Ian Russell. How did he remember that formula?
The basic set was that of Hannay’s London flat, which is in the process of being decorated and from where he introduces himself to the audience. I felt the character would have come across to the audience better had he been seated in a higher chair rather than sinking into a sofa. That of course is just a personal opinion. Either side of the proscenium were two very well constructed theatre boxes representing the London Palladium where Hannay’s adventures first began. This set formed the background for all the scenes, with good use being made of the decorator’s ladders on which were hung various backdrops indicating train stations as well as other locations as the action moves from one place to the next. The minimal props were mostly multi-functional with ingenious use being made of a number of boxes, representing train seats as well as a car and a plane.
The show had some terrific special effects, both lighting and sound, including the escape from the train and from the farmhouse as well as hanging off the bridge and of course the aeroplane chase, straight out of Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest”. The audience of course has to use their imagination during some of these sequences, but I think that is all part of the fun. It was also good to hear live music played at all appropriate times.
I liked that scene changes were carried out quickly with background music and never in complete black-out.
I really enjoyed this production and must congratulate Will on his directing. My one criticism is that I would like to have seen Hannay more suitably dressed for the period. I must stress though that this did not detract, in any way, from the actor’s performance.
Well done to all involved and thank you for your hospitality.
© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.
Without any prompting, we received the following review from our lovely audience member, Stephen Wales. Thanks a million Stephen. He has kindly agreed that we share his review with you.
The 39 Steps – Much Hadham Drama Group
Directed by Will Jamison
Saturday, 17th May
Much Hadham Village Hall
There is a comforting charm to an evening at the Much Hadham Village Hall, the kind of warmth that only community theatre can offer. I was greeted with the usual friendly welcome, my name ticked off the list and, in true village tradition, invited to part with £5 for the raffle. (Alas, the cheeseboard eluded me) The hall was bustling, tables set cabaret-style with additional rows of seating at the rear, a good-natured crowd settling in for the evening. As a fan of the Hitchcock classic and its cinematic remakes, I took my seat with eager anticipation.
This adaptation of The 39 Steps is a farcical take on the film, but admirably faithful to the original storyline. The narrative follows the hapless Richard Hannay, played with considerable charm and comic precision by the excellent Ollie Robinson, as he finds himself swept into a whirlwind espionage plot involving stolen state secrets and shadowy foreign agents.
From London to the misty moors of Scotland, the journey is peppered with eccentric characters, underwear salesmen, police officers, hoteliers, and of course, spies all brought to life with delightful energy by a versatile supporting cast. Vanessa Povey, beguiling and mysterious as Annabella Schmidt; Alison Falconer, channelling villainy with gusto as Professor Jordan; and Ian Russell as Mr Memory – though I must question the reliability of his recall when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur's supposed 5–0 cup final victory over Arsenal. (We theatre critics do our research.)
The ensemble, Jill Oxborrow, Lauren O'Neill, Amy Prosser, and Amanda Green all deserve commendation for their impeccable timing and commitment to rapid-fire character changes. Costume swaps from one exaggerated persona to the next were handled with admirable slickness, lending pace and vibrancy to the production.
Staging and props were pleasingly minimal, yet highly effective. Particular highlights included the cleverly executed window escape, the stylised train sequence, and an imaginative plane chase. A car made by spies? Why not. Simplicity, it turns out, is the secret weapon of amateur theatre, when paired with good timing and bold imagination.
Despite knowing the outcome, I found myself rooting for Hannay, drawn in by the performances and the infectious enthusiasm of the cast. I wanted him to succeed, a testament to both the direction and the performances.
Special mention must be made of Will Jamison's direction. The play was brisk, well-paced, and never overstayed its welcome. Even the accents, often a minefield in amateur theatre, held together, though Annabella's origins might require a little geographical licence.
In sum, this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, a witty, fast-paced production that played to the strengths of a confident and cohesive ensemble. The Much Hadham
Drama Group should take a well-earned bow. This was community theatre at its most entertaining.
