I was really intrigued when I first read the press release below. Imagine, more than 140 characters to be played by only four people? That should be a riot! Now, I can't wait to finally see the press preview come March 3!
Edit March 7: I already saw The 39 Steps last Thursday and it was a HOOT! You guys should really see this show. Promise, you will have a great time forgetting your worries for a couple of hours as you laugh your way to the ending :) More about my impressions here.
Press Release:
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have the intriguing, thrilling, riotous, “unmissable” comedy smash --- “The 39 Steps.”
“The 39 Steps" is the second offering of Repertory Philippines for the 2011 season that promises to be a blissfully funny show and a wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller at breakneck speed, and played for laughs all the way.
A comic theatrical adaptation written by Patrick Barlow adapted from the 1915 World War I espionage novel by Scottish author John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock, “The 39 Steps" has a cast of four fearless actors playing over 140 characters in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun that often requires fast quick
changes and occasionally for them to play multiple characters at once.
The 2008 Roundabout Broadway production of “The 39 Steps" won the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and Outstanding Lighting Design. It won two Tony Awards for Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design and was also nominated for four other categories - Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play and Best Costume Design of a Play. The London production won a Sir Olivier Award in 2007 for Best Comedy Play.
“The 39 Steps" follows the incredible adventures of a handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.
To be directed by Ana Abad Santos, “The 39 Steps” features an amazingly brilliant cast with Michael Williams playing the hero, Richard Hannay. Last seen on the Rep stage as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”, Michael also directed the multi-award winning Sondheim hit, “Sweeney Todd". After playing hundreds of roles including Javert in “Les Misérables” for which he gained critical acclaim, Michael is now the founder, president and artistic director of his own repertory company, Theater Down South, where he acts as mentor and teacher to aspiring young actors. He also teaches theater arts at Chinese International School Manila and La Salle Zobel.
Marking her return to the Philippine theatre scene after living in London for the past 10 years is Liza lnfante who plays the three women whom Richard has romantic entanglements with. The year 2000 marked Liza's departure to study in London and her last Rep performance was in “Once Upon A Mattress” as Winnifred.
Audiences remember her memorable roles as Julie Jordan in “Carousel” and Nelly Forbush in “South Pacific”. Liza is also an MBA graduate of the London Business School. She currently owns her own business called Two Tots, designing and manufacturing children's furniture and accessories.
(L-R) Michael, Liza, Ana, Menchu, Rem, and Julienne
after the Feb. 8 press con
Rem Zamora and Juliene Mendoza play every other character in the show: heroes, villains, men, women, performing stunts, changing accents.
Bagging the role of Judas Escariot in “Jesus Christ Superstar" for his first Rep show in 1996, Rem Zamora went on to play a diversity of roles including Emilio Aguinaldo in Rep’s first original musical, “Miong", based on the life on the young general, and most notably as Cosme McMoon in “Glorious”. He has also done work
outside Rep with PETA as Dr. Beau in “Skin Deep". Rem is also active as Rep’s Marketing Director. Outside Rep, he is an events producer and director as well as an entrepreneur, owning and managing Piquant, a health-food restaurant in RCBC.
Juliene Mendoza is an actor, singer and voice-over talent for Radio and TV ads since 1988 and has worked with most of the theater groups in Manila. Most recently, he played the lead role of Vicente Ayllon in the Insular Life Musicale "A Journey in C Major”, which, performed in Manila and Cebu. He was also the Station Voice of QTV Channel 11 in 2010. Other recent credits include performing in the MMQ Production "Le Cirque du Cabaret", a charity concert at the Sofitel Hotel in August 2010 and band leader for the lounge band Allegria at the Shangri-la Makati. He is also an occasional performer in “Heroes Square” at Fort Santiago,
lntramuros.
Co-presented by Enderun and the City of Makati, "The 39 Steps," is a must-see for ages 9 to 90 and is guaranteed to be one of the best times you'll ever have at the theatre!
You don't even have to be familiar with Alfred Hitchcock's classic film to enjoy it. “The 39 Steps" will keep you guessing and laughing.
The artistic and creative team of “The 39 Steps” is led by Baby Barredo (Artistic Director), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Associate Artistic Director), Ana Abad Santos (Director), Trineth Villasis (Assistant Director), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Denis Lagdameo (Set Designer), Jethro Joaquin (Sound Designer), Raven Ong (Costume Designer), Denis Lagdameo and Gianina Ocampo (Puppet Animation).
"The 39 Steps” production staff is composed of Gidget Tolentino (Production Manager), Ayam Barredo (Company Manager), Raymond Vergara (Stage Manager) Pol Roxas (Sound Technician), Pablito Salvador (Lighting Technician) and Adul Lasin (Set Execution and Scenic Artist).
The marketing, sales and publicity of “The 39 Steps” is led by Toots Tolentino (PR and Publicity), Rem Zamora (PR and Publicity, Marketing), Ayam Barredo and Oliver Usison (PR & Publicity, Marketing), Marie Talay and Rose Silva (Marketing and Sales) and Jojit Lorenzo (Photography).
Show dates are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. All performances are at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
For tickets, inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926 and 571-4941 or email info@repertory.ph. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Visit www.repertory.ph, subscribe to youtube.com/repertoryphils, and add “Rep Phils" in Facebook.
“The 39 Steps” is brought to you by the following sponsors: Ayala Malls, Business World, Ticketworld, Manila Bulletin, HerWord.com, Click the City.com, Lane Moving and Storage, Dot.ph, 105.1 Crossover, Jam 88.3, U92 and Yehey.com.
“The 39 Steps” is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Limited.
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