Vale Life : Feb/Mar 2013
sense of pace and urgency. Was it difficult to strike this balance? “Yes, it is a difficult balance, but it’s also a very attractive balance to go for. One of the things that interested me in the project was having the chance to do something that was very farcical and fast but which still had people gripped by the story. It’s not meant to be a spoof of the story. The most important thing for me was to keep the story as tight and real as possible.”
like a meditation on a man alone, searching for the truth. Not exactly nail-biting, which is what one needs. So at first I couldn’t really find a way in – until I bought the VHS of the Hitchcock film for £2.99, and there was the answer, ready-made.”
What do the four actors have to understand about their parts to ensure the show works at its best? “Two things. That the faster and tighter they play it, the more Does that mean it is the story will work. We ‘One of the things a send-up of the should all be breathless ridiculousness of by the end. So when that interested me was the theatre rather than the actors take their chance to do something that final the ridiculousness of bow, it should be the story? like they’ve achieved was farcical and fast’ “Yes, absolutely. something extraordinary. Much as we love theatre, it is Secondly - as I’ve said - the ridiculous, of course, by its very nature. A story is all: both the story of the play and the world of wood, canvas and light, as someone characters’ own individual stories as well. once said, but always taken so madly Even though it’s billed as a comedy, the seriously by performer and audience. There actors should take the story as seriously as is a kind of unspoken agreement that neither they would a psychological drama.” will let on that we know it’s actually total artifice and pretence and therefore barmy The 39 Steps promises to be an evening really. The actual story is quite different. I of fun and laughter harking back to a more would never ever send that up. The story is spiffing time when men wore moustaches the key to everything.” and tweed, and women swooned. Tickets are available through the Waterside booking What was your starting point for adapting office or online. Hitchcock’s film for the stage? “The first idea was of adapting John l Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Buchan’s book, which of course is one of Exchange Street, Aylesbury, the first great thrillers. It is very elegant Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG and charming and even for its time quite Telephone Booking: 0844 871 7607 Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury suspenseful, but still rather staid. It is more
Spring at The Waterside Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on... Rocky Horror Show
February 4th-9th
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
February 11th
Colin Fry
February 12th
Balletboyz
February 14th
Chris Dean’s Syd Lawrence Orchestra
February 15th
The 39 Steps
February 18th-23rd
Russian State Ballet: Coppelia & Swan Lake
February 25th-27th
Anton & Erin: Go to Hollywood
March 2nd
Wow! A Celebration of Kate Bush
March 4th
Milton Jones
March 6th
Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor
March 7th
The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular
March 8th
Joseph
March 12th-16th
Chinese State Circus
March 20th-21st
Roy Chubby Brown Mother Africa Goodnight Mister Tom
March 22nd March 23rd March 26th-30th
Vale Life : Feb/Mar 2013
47