by Gabriella Currie

Director Rob Woodcock, Sweeney & Erin

This week I sat in at a first reading of the play, The 39 Steps. First impressions are very important. I wish you could have been there. You couldn’t help but be affected by the palpable excitement in the room. The actors straggle in – coffees in hand (gotta have that life-giving-first-of-the-day coffee) laughing and chatting, exchanging news and light stories.


Then director Rob Woodcock gets things going. Brief introductions and the reading begins.

Wait – before we continue…..what the heck is…. um…. are, The 39 Steps? (take notes, there’ll be a quiz).



1. A book written by John Buchan in 1915?
2. A 1939 Radio play with Orson Welles?
3. A 1943 Radio play with Glenn Ford?
4. A 1992 BBC radio adaptation?
5. A 1935 black and white film adaptation directed by Alfred Hitchcock?
6. A 1959 colour film starring Kenneth More?
7. A 1978 film starring Robert Powell?
8. A comic theatrical adaptation (British farce) by Patrick Barlow which opened in London in 2006?
9. A 2008 book of interactive fiction adapted by Penguin Books called The 21 Steps?
10. 39 stairs at Broadstairs running from the garden to the beach?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes - all of the above.

We’re here for the reading of the play, The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow into a British Farce, which will be presented at the Rose Studio Theatre in July. Of course, the provenance of all these versions is the book written by John Buchan first published in 1915.

Who is, I’m sorry, was… John Buchan? (He died in 1940 when he fell and his is head in Rideau Hall.)

This is where I digress a little.

John Buchan was a Scottish novelist and British politician who was appointed as Governor General of Canada in 1935. He loved titles and honours:

• His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield, Companion of the Order of Companions of Honour, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada,

Mark (Llewellyn) starts the read and the words come alive. Then Scott (Carmichael) then Sweeney (MacArther) – back and forth and around the table – so many accents - fast, witty, funny.

I’m starting to wonder how the stage will be set……trying to translate these words into action – so far just in my head.

How will it look when the creative hands – and minds - work their magic? We’re laughing now – you’ll laugh later, I know. I’m reminded how funny British Farce is… how much I love it.

Sweeney again – another accent and another hilarious voice. It reminds me of Bluebottle from The Goon Show – that wonderful British radio comedy programme which ran from 1951 to 1960.

I’m enjoying myself and suddenly the last word is spoken……

…….till next time.