Overview

• The 39 Steps is playing at the Sydney Opera House’s Drama Theatre through August 30 in a new Australian touring version directed by Damien Ryan.
• Patrick Barlow’s 2005 four-person farce trades Hitchcockian suspense for rapid-change parody and broad physical comedy performed by David Collins and Shane Dundas of the Umbilical Brothers.
• James Browne’s black-and-white Art Deco–inspired set and Matthew Marshall’s sumptuous lighting combine with Brady Watkins’ dynamic sound design to create a filmic atmosphere.
• Critics applaud Ian Stenlake’s earnest portrayal of Richard Hannay and Lisa McCune’s versatile turns, though some note Stenlake’s physical limits in more demanding scenes.
• Several reviews highlight the show’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime and repetitive slapstick routines as factors that undermine its narrative momentum.