Charleston Stage produces high-spirited Hitchcock masterpiece 'The 39 Steps' (update: good review)

Image by Charleston Stage

Update October 31, review: The Charleston City Paper has a review of the play and gives it a pretty glowing thumbs up; take a read.

First reporting, play announcement:

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a classic spy novel, add a bit of Monty Python and you have 'The 39 Steps,' a fast-paced hilarious whodunit opening October 29th at the historic Dock Street Theatre.

Four actors create 130 roles in this hilarious high-spirited theatrical romp. Based on Alfred Hitchcock's cinematic 1935 masterpiece and John Buchan's best-selling spy novel, The 39 Steps follows a man, falsely accused of being a spy, on a wild chase across England and Scotland as well as across the top of a fast moving train. Along the way he encounters dastardly murderers, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women. A journey filled with wit, wisecracks, and clever stage devices, Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps is an adrenaline-filled adventure not to be missed!

Here's more on the upcoming production:

"It's great fun to watch classic Hitchcock scenes come alive through nothing more than simple props, theatrical magic, and four talented actors," says Director Marybeth Clark. The 39 Steps stars veteran actors Kyle W. Barnette (Richard Hannay) who recently appeared as Malvolio in Charleston Stage's production of Twelfth Night, Brian J. Porter (Clown/Man 2) who starred as last season's sexy Emcee in Charleston Stage's production of Cabaret, Beth Curley (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret) who made her one woman debut as Haley Walker in Charleston Stage's production of Bad Dates, and George Younts (Clown/Man 1), a Theatre 99 company member who tours a one-man adaptation of A Christmas Carol every year. Combine these four talented comedic actors with exaggerated acting styles, preposterous accents, loopy dialogue played straight combined with a tongue-in-cheek performance mode that blends mime, slapstick and Monty Python-esque drollery, and you have a thrilling evening of theatre magic!

The performance will run from October 29th - November 7th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, located at 135 Church Street. Tickets are available online 24 hours a day at, or can be purchased over the phone  Mon-Fri 12-5 p.m. by calling (843) 577-7183.