Colonial Theatre’s ‘The 39 Steps’ opens Saturday

Known widely for its popular summertime “Shakespeare in the Park” productions, this year the Colonial will instead present John Buchan’s “The 39 Steps (Abridged)” this summer — a two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning comedic send-up of the classic Hitchcock whodunit film, which is packed with nonstop laughs, old-fashioned romance, and more than 150 zany characters — all played by a talented cast of four.

“People need to laugh,” said Westerly native and director Marion Markham one afternoon last week as she gathered with the cast and crew for a rehearsal in Babcock Hall. “And we’ve created a world where people can laugh.”

Markham said the theater company began to “branch out” a few years back when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they staged “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare followed by Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” — an extraordinary production that was met with positivity and enthusiasm — in 2022.

Last year, when the company presented Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” Markham said she was so moved when she came upon two little girls, sitting on a stump of a tree one afternoon, hours before the show was to begin, “waiting for Ariel” that she’s been devoted to “expanding genres” and finding ways to “encourage different audiences,” and make their shows more accessible.

“We believe in the power of innovation and surprise,” Markham said in a statement. “While Shakespeare’s timeless works have their revered place, we wanted to bring something fresh and exhilarating to our audience this season.”

Markham said the company is also hoping to involve more people in the production and is working with “lots of interns” and several local groups and clubs.

“We are actually courting groups,” she said.

This year’s play, she said, “offers a unique blend of Hitchcockian intrigue and Monty Python-esque absurdity, making it the perfect choice to captivate both seasoned theatre-goers and newcomers alike.”

“The 39 Steps (Abridged),” adapted by Patrick Barlow, from an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon, will star James Evans as Richard Hannay, Julia Moore in three roles — Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret — Dan Morrison as Clown 1 and Alex Olson as Clown 2.

“This is a very physical play,” Markham said with a laugh, “with the clowns, a lot of props and a lot of costume changes.”

And, she added, there are a combined 104 roles for the four characters.

“And lots of fights,” said Evans shortly before he hopped on stage to run through a train scene with his three fellow actors.

“This play has been on my bucket list for quite a while,” said Evans, “so this fits the bill and its fun to perform.”

“I have to say it’s been on my bucket list as well,” added Morrison who played Vladimir in the Colonial’s production of “Waiting for Godot.” “And this is an amazing ensemble.”

Moore, who played Ariel in last season’s “The Tempest,”  said she too, has long wanted to be in a production of “The 39 Steps (Abridged).”

“I first saw it when I was young,” she said, “and I fell deeply in love with it as an audience member.”

“I have auditioned for this show seventeen times,” said Morrison, “and finally I get to be in the play.”

The story centers around the “dashing hero,” Hannay, who finds himself unwittingly entangled in a dangerous spy plot.

As he races to clear his name and uncover the true villains, the play — which promises to have “audiences will be on the edge of their seats as they follow the thrilling tale of murder, mystery, and romance” — delivers non-stop action and side-splitting laughs, Markham said.

“It’s a comedy thriller,” she added as the four actors began to run through a  hilarious train scene where Hannay is trying to disguise himself. “Lots of physical comedy and lots of fights.”

With that, Ryan Zemanek, the production stage manager ordered those inside the auditorium to be silent, then played the sounds of a whistling train as the play, indeed, went on.