Hitchcock Meets Hilarity in Westport Country Playhouse's Production of "The 39 Steps"

Westport Country Playhouse kicks off its 2024-25 Season with “The 39 Steps", a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem based on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 masterpiece, from October 22 through November 9. This zany whodunnit and two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning play is directed by Mark Shanahan, Playhouse artistic director.

The cast works harmoniously together to successfully make this chaotic farce wildly entertaining and hilarious throughout the show. Although there are only four actors, the cast portrays over 150 characters.

From left to right  Sharone Sayegh, Seth Andrew Bridges, Evan Zes, and Joe Delafield in “The 39 Steps” at Westport Country Playhouse, directed by Mark Shanahan,

The show creatively uses props to create scenes, characters, and to emphasize physical humor, enhancing comedic elements to the play. Old fashioned luggage bags are used to mimic narrow train seats in one scene.

The cast includes Seth Andrew Bridges as Clown 1, Professor Jordan, others (Westport Country Playhouse: Script in Hand play reading “Murder by Misadventure,” fight choreographer for “A Sherlock Carol”; Off-Broadway: Mint Theater Company; Regional: Alley Theatre, etc.; Film/TV: Over 100 credits, including “Billions,” “Only Murders in the Building”); Joe Delafield as Richard Hannay (Westport Country Playhouse: “A Sherlock Carol,” “The School for Husbands,” Radio Theater’s “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” Script in Hand playreadings of “Christmas at Pemberley,” “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd”; Broadway: “Tartuffe”; Off-Broadway: “Fashions for Men,” “Outward Bound,” “A Sherlock Carol”; Television: “The Sopranos”); Sharone Sayegh as Annabella, Pamela, Margaret (Westport Country Playhouse: “A Sherlock Carol,” Script in Hand playreadings of “Mrs. Christie,” “As Bees in Honey Drown,” “Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” “Letters to Our Daughters”; Broadway: “Come From Away,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Mamma Mia!”); and Evan Zes as Clown 2, Mr. Memory (Westport Country Playhouse: “Around the World in 80 Days,” Script in Hand playreadings of “Mrs. Christie,” “Breaking Legs,” “Rent Control” as writer/performer; Broadway: “The Kite Runner”; Off-Broadway: “Incident at Vichy,” “Rent Control,” “Arms and the Man,” “Days to Come”; Television: “Only Murders in the Building”; Film: “The Street”). 

Director Mark Shanahan, Playhouse artistic director and Script in Hand curator, is the writer/director of The New York Times Critics’ Pick “A Sherlock Carol” (Off-Broadway Alliance nomination, Best New Play 2021), playing three seasons in New York, annually at London’s Marylebone Theatre, and for the 2023 and upcoming 2024 holiday season at Westport Country Playhouse. He recently directed his own adaptation of “Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” in partnership with Agatha Christie Ltd., which premiered at the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre. He is the author of “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” “See Monsters of the Deep,” the Off-Broadway and regional hit comedy “The Dingdong,” as well as numerous radio plays as creator of the White Heron Ghost Light series, featuring Christopher Plummer, Judith Ivey, Rhonda Ross, and other notables. Shanahan has directed at stages around the country such as Alley Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Virginia Stage, Arkansas Rep, White Heron, Mile Square Theatre, Hudson Stage, Theatre Squared, Fulton Opera House, Weston Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Florida Rep, Penguin Rep, Merrimack Rep, The Cape Playhouse, and many more. As an actor, Shanahan has appeared on and Off-Broadway (“The 39 Steps,” “Tryst,” “The Shaugraun,” and others) and at many celebrated regional theatres. Shanahan has appeared on the Westport Country Playhouse stage in “Journey’s End” (2005), “David Copperfield,” directed by Joanne Woodward and Annie Keefe, (2005), “Sedition” (2007), “Tryst” (2008), and “Around the World in 80 Days” (2009), and numerous Script In Hand readings. Shanahan is also the creator and curator of Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, in partnership with WSHU Public Radio, and served as writer/director of the Playhouse radio adaptation of “A Merry Little Christmas Carol".

Creative team includes James J. Fenton, scenic designer, resident of Ridgefield, CT; Jeni Schaefer, costume designer; J. Dominic Chacon, lighting designer; Ryan Rumery, sound designer; Steve Pacek, movement coordinator; and Megan Smith, production stage manager.

Official trailer of Westport County Playhouse's production of "The 39 Steps". Video created by Rory Duffy.

This season Westport Country Playhouse is presenting a season of laughter with a slate of comedies chosen specifically to energize the community with a welcoming sense of warmth, humor, and joy.

Running time is approximately two hours, with one intermission. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. Single tickets for “The 39 Steps” start at $35 and are subject to change based upon availability. Buy early for best prices. For information on special offers, including discounts for students, senior citizens, educators, military and first responders, Indigenous peoples, professional playwrights, and groups, as well as options for pay-what-you-will and library passes, visit www.westportplayhouse.org/visit/box-office/. 

Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. (No Wed. or Sat. matinees during preview week). Special series include Taste of Tuesdays (October 22), Together at the Table (October 23), Pride Night (October 24), Opening Night (October 26), Sunday Symposium with director Mark Shanahan (October 27), Open Captions (November 3), Backstage Pass (November 6), and Thursday TalkBack (November 7).

For full details, visit: https://www.westportplayhouse.org/show/the-39-steps/.