By Ashely Birdsell
A satire of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 movie, The 39 Steps, is a delicious romp infused with bits of physical comedy, fast-paced laughs, and fun gags is currently featured in downtown Frederick.
This Tony-winning stage production is currently playing just a few steps away – albeit a bit more than 39, but not too far – at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre on West Patrick Street. The MET, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this season, has employed four of their best performers to play over 150 characters.
After Richard Hannay (Andrew Baughman) is entrusted by a charming, gun-toting Russian spy (Lisa Burl) with a secret mission, he travels the globe via plane, train, and automobile – all onstage, no less! – to stop the evil villains from stealing vital British military secrets.
Baughman and Burl are joined by the talented Tad Janes and Matt Baughman, who ensure that the adventure-packed satire is met with laughs.
Andrew Baughman is charming as Hannay, managing to match wits with the craziest of villains while still giving the play a dash of realism.
As for the rest of the cast, tried-and-true stereotypes are out in full force in this production, their presence infusing humor into nearly every scene.
Matt Baughman nearly steals the show as a Scottish landlady, between his inflated bosom and his impeccable comedic timing. Janes finds equal success as an overbearing Scotsman who growls his way through every biting line; later, his scenes as an evil professor (minus a finger, no less) are wickedly hysterical.
The sole female onstage, Burl is a comedic gift, with inflection and acting chops that make you hang on every word. Though the romance between Burl’s Pamela and Hannay is hardly unsurprising, Burl is lovely to watch and infuses scenes with a spark of tension that comes across effectively.
Physical comedy gems included a tongue-in-cheek chase aboard a speeding train, a clever plane sequence, and a bit with a finicky windowshade that is all too relatable. If anything, one should head over to the MET just for the gut-busting laughs that come from watching Hannay try and wiggle out from under a dead body — much more sexually-charged than it sounds, be assured.
The 39 Steps runs through September 30 at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, located on West Patrick Street. Tickets for Hood students are only $6, which is well worth it for a fun, zany evening at the theatre.
This production will appeal to anyone looking to turn off their brain for an hour or two, commit to the nonsense that is whodunit satire at its finest, and just enjoy a hearty laugh.
Fans of stodgy, dry comedy and serious subject matter should stay well away until later in the MET’s season – The Glass Menagerie, anyone? Visit marylandensemble.org for more details, or call their box office at 301-694-4744.
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