The 39 Steps

A Note From Our Director:

John Buchan’s Scottish spy thriller, The Thirty-nine Steps, was serialized in 1915, subsequently published as a book later that year, and became his most famous work. His granddaughter, Deborah Buchan (Lady Stewartby), noted in 2009 that he “wrote it for his own amusement.” She goes on to say that “he loved the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film of the book.” In her introductory comment to the published edition of the play, Lady Stewartby also comments on the “deft and funny way the action of this marvelous script by Patrick Barlow is portrayed on stage” and states “I think my grandfather would have been very proud.”

While you and I might find it remarkable that much of the play’s dialogue is from the original screenplay, anything else I would want to tell you about it is neatly summed up by the adapter himself:

“There is much opportunity for comedy and satire here. But it’s also a love story. A man and a woman who have never loved anyone, yet miraculously – through all the daredevil feats of derring-do – discover the beating of their own true hearts. That there’s a reason to live and a reason to love. And above all a reason – as our hero (fired up by love though he doesn’t know that’s what it is yet) blissfully realizes in his passionately impromptu political speech – to look after each other and look after the world.”

All that’s left for me to say is that I’ve been thrilled and impressed by the inventiveness and dedication of this talented ensemble of student actors, crew members, and stage managers along with the really fine work I’ve come to respect and experience from my talented colleagues. And a special “thank you” to all of you for supporting live theatre and being here with us.