Theatre Review: THE 39 STEPS at New Theatre, Cardiff

I'm not one for theatre but found myself going for the second time in a month.

Unlike the hugely tame Godspell last month (my fault for only going 'cos it was cheap!), I thoroughly enjoyed the spiffing, rattling 90 minutes that was The 39 Steps at Cardiff's New Theatre. Winner of Best New Comedy in 2007, you were left in no doubt it was that why by the end of the evening.

An adaptation of Hitchcock's masterpiece of a spy intrigue thriller, it was hammed to the max with 4 actors covering 139 different roles or, more to the point, the actor who played cad Richard Hannay stayed in that role all night, an actress played all three leading ladies which left 2 other actors to, at breathtaking and comedic pace, play the remaining 135 between them.

Some sections were hilarious but you probably had to be there to see it for yourself with a clever use of props including doors on wheels to appear you were looking from the outside one moment and inside the next, props pulled/wheeled/carried/thrown on and off and inspirational acting, none better than when all four bobbed on 2 suitcases to give the impression of a train in motion, waving their hats wildly on their heads as they looked out of the train window and flapped their long coats manically behind them to give the impression of a chase on the train roof.

Add in a cracking script with some killer punchlines and this was a thoroughly entertaining affair which I loved. My missus didn't quite get it but she appeared to be alone in that.

A few drinks in Kairdiff and a show too - not a bad way to spend a Friday night.