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Arts & Entertainment

Clever Farce of Hitchcock's Film Classic "The 39 Steps" @La Mirada Theatre

EVENT:  Nearby La Mirada Theatre of Performing Arts
Offers Unique Live Play of Hitchcock’s Film The 39 Steps

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Theater Review: 1,000 Laughs, Insights & Moments of Clever, Wise, Fun Surprises Hail A Hitchcock & Entertain Us ______________________________________________

Reviewed By:
Joseph Sirota

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There are many ways to pay tribute to a “favorite”, be it a favorite movie, a favorite play, a favorite story, a favorite director, or a favorite creative hero. Awards, medals, dinners honoring life’s work, and buying tickets to
support new works all count. But lets not forget two offbeat, but psychologically proven ways of expressing our deep acceptance, admiration and high rating of a uniquely moving individual: Imitation (oft called the highest honor), and Warmhearted Joking about his unmistakable style. Both of these form of tributes soar to the heights of the stately La Mirada Theatre as the brilliant, scintillating
tongue-in-cheek play, The 39 Steps adapts cinema icon, Alfred Hitchcock’s genius, wit, and amazing ability to stir audience emotions, fears and values. Patrick Barlow & John Buchan’s superbly smart/funny wisely/hysterical adaptation of “Hitch’s” film & novel delights.

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Having mentioned Awards, The 39 Steps wowed em’ on Broadway, grabbing Tony and Drama Desk Honors, plus avalanches of laughs and smiles of audiences, that earned the show a surprising long, long run for a “comedy” in the tough Big-Apple city.  Adapter Patrick Barlow speaks
of his determination to spread appreciation for the philosophical, ethical sides of Hitchcock and his writers that might be easily lost in Alfred’s et al’s…uncanny ability to thrill, scare & have film audiences on the edge of their seats, when he was also a man of humor, wit and deep conscience/ethics.

These are truly, important insights, indeed, though I must point out that most audience attendees thoroughly happy, smiling and hailing the evening’s show for grand, mile-minute comic moments with both excellent physical humor
achievements as well as strikingly impressive high-speed dialogs delivered with not a flinch nor a missed double-entendre, nor a bobbled interchange. “How did those 4 guys and gals work so hard, handle all those lines and character changes … plus costumes changes, plus scenery and prop high-speed changes, as if mere mortals could easily remember and deliver all those story twists and
perform all the physical stunts as well?” I echo their Bravo’s !!

The program preview describes this wondrous 2-hours of shear theatrical mart magic quite nicely: “Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure!  I hasten to say they are not exaggerating, and I’d add that if you miss this you’d be missing a rare, hilarious, yet sharply well thought out show that though tongue-in-cheek on stage, is a charming lesson in creative energy, understanding and delivery at its best. As for production values, the
La Mirada production team, really had a “Hands-Full”(and then-some!) challenge in the myriad of locations, story-turns, action sequences, stunt scenes (both physical, verbal and fanciful). They handled the complex demands with inventive and whimsical A+ skill: Peter Mckintosh
(Set & Costume Designer); Steven Young (Lighting Designer); John Zalewski (Sound Designer); William Coiner (Stage Manager).

Kudos are due to Director, Jessica Kubzansky who guides, shapes and helps breathe life into the plentiful
merriment (and wisdom). And lets offer quadruple to the 4 daringly brave and oh-so capably able and talented cast members, Andrew Borba (As central character, Richard Hannay...Watch this master of farce turn from self-centered anti-hero into a worldly hero before our eyes!), Dana Green (As Annabella Schmidt / Pamela / Margaret Ms Green, is a tantalizing femme of  many faces from
“fatale” to converted “ever-after sweetheart”) David Mcbean (Clown #2...etc) and  Matt Walker (Clown #1…etc) … simply said, these two, oh-so versatile and hard-working fellows conjure up more faces than even the late-great Lon Chaney legendary actor of 1,000 faces, as they portray just about everybody else in the world (If they were paid by the character, they’d now own the La Mirada Theatre. With free-parking, comfortable seats, lots of legroom… & this splendid live romp, Don’t Miss It!!

---The 39 Steps: La Mirada Theatre14900 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638. Sched: Fri & Sat 8pm ; Wed & Thu 7:30pm; Matinees Sat & Sun 2:pm. Close: Feb 12. Tkts: $35-$50(/discounts). Call: (562)944-9801 or LaMiradaTheatre.com

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