The Play's the Thing

   I’ve been to maybe three professional theatre productions in the United States.  In my life.  If I include amateur shows that number goes up to a more respectable number, but I really don’t have the time, access, money, or inclination to go to the theatre at home.  In the past three weeks I’ve been to four professional shows in London.  Four!  And they’ve all been spectacular.  Plus, I plan on going to one more before I leave this great city (in just 3 short days!). 





I saw Wicked and Billy Elliot with my program.


(Thanks to Dr. Everhart and Cara for use of their pictures.)

Also, to Singin’ in the Rain with three others in our group.

And tonight I traveled to Piccadilly Circus (not actually a circus, this is what Englanders call a roundabout or a traffic circle—though there were so many people milling about one could call it a circus) and saw The 39 Steps on my own.

  I’ve seen a recent BBC version of this story and loved it.  A film I highly recommend, and the reason I thought I’d enjoy this play.  Then I heard that four actors play all the roles—all 130 roles—and that it was hilarious.  Add the great deal I could get as a student and I had my Saturday night.  So I went an hour before the show opened and got my discounted, last-minute ticket and wandered a bit before going to find my seat . . . which was second row, dead center.  The Criterion Theatre is a fairly small theatre, but still.

   With only four actors playing all the roles, they pretty much had to make a big joke of it, and they did it superbly.  For example, during a scene one actor had three hats (literally: bowler hat, police helmet, newsboy’s cap) and he quickly switched between them, having a conversation with himself.  Really funny.  Obviously they all had to have a great amount of energy.  Also, they made several references to Hitchcock, since the original 39 Steps was his.  References I picked up were Vertigo, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Psycho, North by Northwest, and Rear Window.
   Plus, I was part of the play!  For those of you who don’t know the story, there’s a part where the main character, Richard, is mistaken for a guest speaker at a political rally and to avoid the police he goes along with it.  He starts talking about the state of the country and at one point says “Is that the kind of life we want?” The actor paused for a long time, then said again “Well, is it?”  He was obviously waiting for an answer, so I said “No!”  And he said “Thank you!”!  Then he smiled and winked at me (I doubt he could actually see me with the lights, but still).  I should probably mention this actor strongly resembles the looks and manner of Cary Elwes, à la Princess Bride.

   Well, from how I’ve run on you can probably tell it was great fun!  And I’ve come away from all four shows with just about the same enthusiasm.  It’s enough to make me plan more trips to the city when I’m back in the States so I can see more great theatre productions.  Who wants to come with me?