The comic mystery closes out the current season at the West Springfield theater.
Scott Severance, David Mason, Kathy McCafferty and Richard Vaden are pictured in a scene from "The 39 Steps" at West Springfield's Majestic Theater. The comedy/mystery runs through May 20. Tickets are $21 - $28 and are available by calling the box office at (413) 747-7797. (Lee Chambers photo)
(Lee Chambers photo)All good things must come to an end, and so it is for the Majestic’s 2011-2012 season which has begun its final production, “The 39 Steps,” running now through May 20.
“I saw the play on Broadway a couple of years ago and it was just so unbelievably funny, charming and clever at the same time, but so very smart. And, I just waited for it to become available for theater groups like ours. I grabbed it when it did, knowing it would be a great way to close the season,” said Danny Eaton, the Majestic’s producing director.
The acclaimed comedy-mystery, based on the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock, won both Tony and Drama Desk Awards.
“The 39 Steps” was inspired by classic films from the 1940s, juicy spy novels and a bit of Monty Python’s Flying Circus thrown in. The fast-paced whodunit features more than 150 characters played by four actors.
“Patrick Barlow, who did the adaptation for theater, took it even a step further, including pieces from ‘Rear Window,’ ‘The Birds,’ and ‘Psycho,’ all the Hitchcock stuff that is so damn smart,” said Eaton.
Zoya Kachadurian, who also directed “King O’ The Moon,” “Stones in His Pockets,” “The Ride” and “The Graduate” at the Majestic, is directing “The 39 Steps.”
“I saw the play with Danny in New York and it was so wonderfully stylish and so funny….making fun of the theater while at the same time elevating it,” said Kachadurian.
“In one scene of the play, there is the premise, at least that’s what I’m taking it to be, that it’s as if a little theater company is trying to present the film on stage and because of their small size is terribly put upon with so many parts and special effects and cues to attend to,” she added.
Kachadurian, like Eaton, also shares a love for Hitchcock.
“He was an absolute master of film. How many have seen ‘Psycho’ and have a memory of the slasher scene, but never saw it actually occur on screen. The way Hitchcock played it out was much more masterful than the brutality of today’s films,” she said.
Cast members include Brooklyn’s David Mason from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Lumberjacks in Love” at the Majestic, as well as Scott Severence from Vermont, Richard Vaden from Springfield and Kathy McCafferty from Brooklyn.
“This is my sixth play with the Majestic, and I’m always thrilled to be here. I hope people will come out to see our production of ‘The 39 Steps’ which is now being staged in theaters around the country. I’m proud of our work so far and now all we need is for audiences to continue to show up,” said Kachadurian.
Although it’s the end of the season at the Majestic, the West Springfield theater will keep its doors open for a summer of alternative programming that includes the Majestic Children’s Theater, Open Mic Night, and a full roster of musical performances which Eaton said would be announced soon.