Millennial Notes

Patrick Barlow Blends Hitchcock Thriller & Slapstick Comedy

by Isa S. Chu

“The 39 Steps,” a madcap comedy with breakneck pacing, tells a story as wild as its characters. Four actors play over 100 roles with endless youthful energy. They reach heights both absurd and oddly brilliant.

Gene Mocsy anchors the madness as Richard Hannay, a man on the run for a murder he did not commit. With his pencil mustache, he is part Sherlock Holmes, part Ned Flanders, a  stiff-upper-lip Londoner with a flair for comedic timing. Mocsy is perfectly paired with Amy Stringer who portrays sultry spy Annabella Schmidt. Stringer becomes a farmer’s wife and a mysterious stranger. Stringer ranges from sensual to hilarious with ease.

Stringer and Mocsy crackle with electricity, especially during the physical comedy scenes. They climb over and under each other, like old music hall screwball comedians.

Samuel Barksdale and Damion Clark play two Clowns who steal the spotlight. They transform themselves into dozens of outlandish, funny characters with the over-the-top energy of Keystone Cops. When Barksdale plays two characters at once, he seamlessly switches between accents as the dialogue ricochets back and forth. It’s a mesmerizing display of skill and a testament to the show’s razor-sharp precision.

Clark brings grace and hilarity to every role, whether embodying the pompous Professor Jordan or the sappy concierge Mrs. McGarrigle. He does McGarrigle in outrageous drag, complete with comically low-hanging breasts in a frumpy nightgown—a laugh-out-loud moment.

Every transformation—whether it’s a set piece, a costume, or a character—feels like a playful wink to the audience. The show leans into imperfections, missing cues on purpose to ridicule themselves. The 39 Steps lead to satire of the British Empire at the top of its game.

Accents are cartoon-like and actors wave their own trench coats to simulate wind. Imperfect quick changes become part of the charm, inviting us to laugh along. The sets are simple and clever. A storefront flips down into a Murphy bed, and a simple door rotates us from outside to inside, seamlessly.

The costumes are equally clever, telling their own stories through their designs. Shady-looking policemen have hunched shoulders built into their trench coats. Hats, coats, and props transform performers in the blink of an eye. It’s inventive, theatrical fun at its best.

Director John Maio’s vision ties everything together, blending Hitchcock’s suspense with slapstick brilliance. Even without knowing every Hitchcock reference, we feel like insiders on a shared joke, making us part of the fun.

Masquers’ “The 39 Steps” (dun dun duuuuun) shows that theater can be smart, silly, and stunning all at once. Whether you’re a die-hard Hitchcock fan or just looking for a night of laughs, this show will reward your funny bone.

“The 39 Steps” –adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by John Maio, from the novel by John Buchan (1915) & the movie by Alfred Hitchcock (1935), scenic design by Jerri Doss, costumes by Tammara Plankers Norleen, lights/sound by Courtney Sutherland, at Masquers Playhouse, Point Richmond, California.

Info: masquers.org – to December 8, 2024

Cast: Gene Mocsy, Amy Stringer, Samuel Barksdale, and Damion Clark.

Banner photo: Gene Moscsy & Amy Stringer. Photos: M. Padua