Defying the thought that the theatre can occasionally lack vim and vigor, The 39 Steps blasts that adage to bits. The almost manic level of energy on stage keeps the audience on their toes and fully engaged with plentiful amounts of laughter.
Based oh so loosely on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name, this production features just four cast members, who between them play a dizzying number of roles. Sometimes these characters are delivered in such quick succession you have to really hustle to keep up.
The cast features TV stars Lisa McCune (Blue Heelers) and Ian Stenlake (Stingers) and those masters of vocal and physical comedy The Umbilical Brothers – David Collins and Shane Dundas. Together the create a maelstrom of humorist energy. This would be one tired cast at the show’s conclusion.
Feeling very British in its comedic ethos and timing as well as dipping into that countries penchant for sound effects hilarity, The 39 Steps crackles with comic intensity. The play is currently on at the QPAC Playhouse for a limited run until the 19th October.
Rob Hudson
The 39 Steps
7-19 October 2025
Playhouse, QPAC
www.qpac.com.au
