Review: 'The 39 Steps' Hits All the Right Buttons

The Arctic Playhouse's "The 39 Steps" is a comic thriller with enough intrigue, suspense, and mystery to satisfy even the most jaded theatergoer.

Based on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, which was adapted from a 1915 novel by John Buchan, the story focuses on the mild-mannered Richard Hannay as he attempts to defeat spies who plan to steal British military secrets.

After encountering the mysterious Annabella in a London music hall, Richard takes her back to his apartment, where she warns him of the "39 Steps." When Annabella is murdered, Richard flees to Scotland with a map in an effort to find the "39 Steps."

Along the way, he learns he is the prime suspect in Annabella's murder and is chased by the police all over the countryside.

Director W. Richard Johnson ("Exit Laughing"), working from a script by Patrick Barlow, takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the material. There are lots of sight gags and eccentric characters Richard meets during his adventures. There are also some witty references to Hitchcock classics and terrific physical comedy, such as when Richard has to escape through windows.

The mix of danger and lunacy might have failed in the hands of a different cast, but not here.

Johnson's staging is crisp and the actors are uniformly excellent, especially Daniel J. Holmes ("Miracle on 34th Street") as Richard. Holmes' comedic timing and facial expressions are impeccable and a joy to watch. He's charismatic, engaging, and is a solid anchor for this story. Richard's repeated escapes from the law are consistently amusing.

Ryan Foster ("Play On") shows a dynamic versatility in multiple roles, including Annabella, the seductive femme fatale who plunges Richard into a world of espionage, the demure farmer's wife Margaret, and Pamela, a headstrong woman Richard ends up handcuffed to as the police hunt him down.

Graham Stokes ("The Normal Heart") proves a skilled comic performer as a boorish farmer with a fervent religious streak, a determined Scotland Yard detective, the busty proprietor of a country inn, and Mr. Memory, a fountain of knowledge and a dream Jeopardy contestant.

Kelly Barry ("Noises Off"), Rachel Bartlett, and Annie Voss-Altman seamlessly transition from train passengers, spies, railroad conductors, and assorted misfits by using different accents and donning a variety of wardrobes (wonderful period costumes by Nancy Rodrigues Spirito).

"The 39 Steps" is a true delight and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

"The 39 Steps" runs through April 30. The Arctic Playhouse. 1249 Main Street, West Warwick, RI. For tickets, visit thearcticplayhouse.com or call 401-573-3443.