“39 Steps” is a Joyful Journey

Richard Hannay finds himself entangled in a perilous dilemma not of his own making. He meets a beautiful, mysterious blonde, then he’s falsely accused of murder and ultimately, the poor soul becomes enmeshed with a foreign espionage ring. 

Will his homeland of Great Britain be saved from the dastardly plans of the devious spies? Will he be able to prove he’s not a killer? The answer to those questions is answered in a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced and breakneck fashion in the play “The 39 Steps.” The Patrick Barlow-penned comedy is playing at the Arts Centre Theater on Marco until November 12th. 

Set in 1930s England, “The 39 Steps” is a mashup that blends elements of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, same- name mystery of that decade with the madcap humor reminiscent of Monty Python. The play takes audiences on a journey from a London music hall north to Scotland’s remote highlands and finally, to the London Palladium. Along the way, intrigue and the unexpected, all heavily infused with comedy, make for an enjoyable viewer experience. 

The play includes every single scene from the legendary, award-winning movie, but it manages to do with four principal cast members who portray more than 150 different characters. And yes, you read the number of actors and characters correctly.

How is that possible? Well, that accomplishment must be seen to be believed.

Featured in the ACT production are Matt Flynn, as Hannay, Sharon Isern as Annabella-Pamela-Margaret, Melissa Hennig and Olivia Rodriguez as the clowns, and Harvey Millar as the radio announcer.

Flynn has appeared in 10 plays over the last four years, including several with the now-defunct Marco Players. Isern, his fiancé, has an extensive background in local theater, including in Fort Myers, Naples and Marco. They’re joined by Henning, a fellow theater veteran and a Conservation Collier program environmental specialist. Rodriguez is a Marco resident and Millar is a graduate of Marco Island Academy (MIA). 

The director is Christopher Dayett, MIA’s Director of the Performing Arts. He’s joined by MIA students Isabella Diaz, Canon Miller and Kai Samuel, who are acting as stage managers. 

“39 Steps” demands a lot of actors in terms of physicality, mastering the accents and reams of dialog, and breathing life into the many characters. In this production, the cast is more than up to the task. 

The Arts Center Theatre is located in Marco Town Center, 1089 N. Collier Boulevard, Unit #432. For more information about the Arts Center Theatre’s production of “The 39 Steps” and the 2023-2024 schedule, including purchasing tickets, visit marcoislandart.org or call 239-394-4221.