Daren Scott, photographer
Spy stories are always fun to watch. They’re especially fun when they’re played for laughs.
Carlsbad’s New Village Arts gives us a rollicking stage version of Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s famous 1935 film “The 39 Steps.” It plays through May 12.
Here, innocent bystander Richard Hannay (excellently played by Dallas McLaughlin) is drafted in pre-World War II Britain, after which he becomes inadvertently entangled in a web of espionage after a mysterious woman is murdered in his apartment.
This is something Hannay is ill equipped to handle, feeling a bit alienated himself. But he does the best he can, which turns out to be good enough and very funny to those of us watching him.
The cast numbers four, two of whom are called “clowns” (hilarious they are) and the others are various women played by one very fine actress named Erica Marie Weisz. Are you confused yet?
Fear not, the director (Dr. AJ Knox, who also serves as sound designer) will make sure it all comes clear (well, more or less) by the end.
My favorite in the cast is Reden Magtira, one of the Clowns whose job is to explain everything to us, the audience. He is just fun to watch, especially when he goes into his “thinking cap” trances.
With the help of stage manager and sound technician Nathan Waits and his assistant Joseff Paz, scenic coordinator Frank Seed, costume designer Grace Wong, lighting designer Russel Chow, props designer McKenna Foote, intimacy coordinator Kate Rose Reynolds, sound operator Marcus Rico and dialect coach Gerilyn Brault, the show comes off as the writer intended.
Not surprisingly, the original show won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the Tony Award for Best Play.
Grab a ticket now and enjoy it yourself.
The details
“The 39 Steps” plays through May 12 at New Village Arts, 2787 State Street in Carlsbad.
Lobby doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts every day at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at the box office (760) 433-3245
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