The Wilmslow Green Room's production of The 39 Steps is a comedic adaptation of the John Buchan melodrama penned in 1915 which was later transferred to the big screen in 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock.
This rather splendid spoof version by Patrick Barlow calls for the entirety of the 1935 adventure film to be performed with a cast of only four.
One actor plays the hero, Richard Hannay; an actress plays the three women with whom he has romantic entanglements along the way; and two other actors play every other character in the show - heroes, villains, men, women, children and even the occasional inanimate object.
It means you'll be watching two stories at once. There is Buchan's amazing ripping yarn which somehow survives the irreverent treatment and there is the brilliant story of four actors earnestly trying to tell the tale!
Directed by Celia Bonner, this is an open-air production performed at Gawsworth Hall theatre from July 2nd to 4th and in the Gardens at Styal Mill on July 10th and 11th. Not to be missed!
For further information, visit www.wgrsoc.org.uk.
Photo: Jim Gillespie, Geoff Bird and Ian Chatterton.
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It really is a great shame that The 39 Steps is to close this year in London's West End - although, maybe it should be celebrated in reaching over 9 years in London.