The 39 Steps
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2009—2010 SEASON THE 39 STEPS Adapted by Patrick Barlow From the novel by John Buchan From the movie of Alfred Hitchcock Licensed by ITV Global Entertainment Limited CONTENTS And an original concept by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon 2 The 411 Directed by Martha Banta 3 A/S/L & RMAI 4 FYI 5 HTH & RBTL 6 F2F 9 B4U 10 IRL 11 SWDYT? Major Sponsors: Hugh and Ann Scott At The Rep, we know WELCOME! that life moves fast— The desire to learn, insatiable when awakened, can okay, really fast. sometimes lie dormant until touched by the right teacher or But we also know the right experience. We at The Rep are grateful to have the that some things opportunity to play a role supporting you as you awaken the are worth slowing desire for learning in your students. down for. We believe that live theatre is one of Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps is a non-stop mystery that those pit stops worth making and are excited that you are will engage your students from the start. The play is based going to stop by for a show. To help you get the most bang on Alfred Hitchcock’s movie of the same name, but you for your buck, we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an and your students don’t need to have seen it to enjoy the IM guide that will give you everything you need to know to performance. Not only does it have the cleverness and get at the top of your theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find twists for which Hitchcock is known, this production uses character descriptions (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), four actors to play a great number of diverse characters, biographical information (F2F), historical context (B4U), often switching between them on a breath. In my pre-show and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most importantly, we’ll speech, I often mention that live theatre is interactive and have some ideas about what this all means IRL, anyway. the audience has an important role in any performance. That is especially true for this show. The set is simple and open using objects to suggest the many locations to which our characters travel. The audience—your students—will have to engage their imaginations to transport us to trains, bridges, music halls and more. This play truly needs an audience willing to play with us. Who does that better than students? It would be a good idea to take a minute on the bus to give The Teacher’s your students these quick theatre etiquette reminders: Lounge • This show has an intermission; there will be time for bathroom breaks before the show and partway through. In an effort to make our educational materials more • The actors can hear the audience and appreciate the accessible to students and easier for laughter, gasps and quiet attention to action. However, educators to incorporate into the class- talking, moving around and eating is very distracting room, our study guide is written in a student-oriented to others and can dampen the energy of what is format. We hope that you will circulate this guide among happening on stage. your students in the weeks preceding your visit to The • Pictures, phone calls and texting are not allowed at any Rep, encouraging them to browse it before and after class time during the performance. and as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and post-performance discussions. You may also want to Live theatre won’t allow your students to take a passive visit our website, www.repstl.org, for additional role—they must work with us to create the experience which information including educational games, activity takes the learning deeper. Our unique ability to fuse words suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any and images onstage allows your students to explore new materials, either from this guide or from our website may ideas as well as excites their imaginations. We will do our be reproduced for use in the classroom. As always, we part so your students will be stirred to understandings and appreciate your making live theatre a self-awareness while delving into new and familiar worlds. part of your classroom experience You are doing your part by using The Rep to extend your and welcome your feedback intellectual and aesthetic curriculum. Thank you! and questions. Show Me Standards: CA 2, 3, 7; FA 2, 3, 4, 5; SS 2, 4, 6 and Illinois Learning Standards: 1, 2, 5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 27. Marsha Coplon, Director of Education RICHARD HANNAY might tell you to be In his travels, Richard comes across careful what you wish for. Though he used CROFTER and his wife, MARGARET. While to spend much of his time pining they are kind enough to give Richard a for more excitement, his life quickly place to say, it’s probably accurate to assume changes after seeing a show starring the Margaret is fonder of him than her husband famed Mr. Memory. (surprise!). Richard seems to always be meeting some Smart and sophisticated, PROFESSOR new lovely young lady, with ANNABELLA JORDAN seems to have all the answers that being the first and perhaps most unique. She Richard is seeking…but is meeting with the is a charming young woman, though she has Professor the end of Richard’s journey? her fair share of oddities. You never know MR. and MRS. MCGARRIGLE (the inn what she’s going to do or say, so be on the keepers) seem to be good judges of character lookout! as they protect Richard and Pamela from the A sweet but skeptical girl, PAMELA seems suspicious characters who pursue them. to be everything Richard is looking for… And whatever you do, watch out for the wily except she kind of hates his guts. CLOWNS! READ MORE ABOUT IT We encourage you to explore the following books, movies and websites for more information. Buchan, John. The Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 http://hitchcock.tv/ 39 Steps, Kessinger Steps, 86 minutes, Miracle Got a fix for the 411 on Publishing. 2004. You’ve Pictures, 2002. You’ve seen the Hitchcock? Get it quick on this seen the play, check out the play, you’re going to check out website which features a bio, book that started it all! the book (right?!), why not finish essays, film info and more! off the experience by seeing the McGilligan, Patrick. Alfred http://www.imdb.com/ classic movie? Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness IMDB.com—that’s short for and Light, Harper Perennial, Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Internet Movie Database—is the 2004. Want to know about the Northwest, 136 minutes, definitive source for information man behind the mystery? Check Warner Home Video, 2009. If on any and all movies ever made, out this book to learn the master you dig The 39 Steps then you and most (if not all!) of the folks of suspense’s deepest, darkest just might like the similar tale of behind them. Don’t believe me? secrets! North by Northwest. Search out your favorite movie, actor or boom mic operator for yourself and see! 3 THOUGh he’s only recently NARROWLY ESCAPING, returned home from exciting Richard travels the travels, Richard Hannay is countryside until he comes already bored and looking upon Crofter and Margaret. for action as the play begins. They kindly open their home Luckily for him, in a trip to to Richard, though Crofter a show starring the famous quickly becomes jealous as Mr. Memory (a man who Richard turns on the charm seems to know anything with Margaret. He barely and everything) he meets a gets away once again, but strange but intriguing woman not before stealing Crofter’s by the name of Annabella. coat (with a hymnal in the pocket). AFTER SOME curious antics at the show (antics involving some gunshots FINALLY, Richard lands at Professor Jordan’s and clowns), Annabella persuades Richard mansion. It seems Richard is on cusp of to take her home with him. Once they fulfilling Annabella’s quest until he notices arrive, Annabella reveals that she is a secret that the Professor is missing a piece of his agent attempting to defend confidential little finger…something Annabella warned information regarding the nation’s air Richard to look out for. Professor Jordan defense. It would seem that the clowns are reveals he’s in cahoots with the bad guys the bad guys, and they’ll stop at nothing to before shooting Richard. smuggle the information out of the county. MIRACULOUSLY, however, the hymnal Before they retire for the evening, Richard absorbs the bullet and Richard is able to slip decides to assist Annabella in saving the away once again. Before being apprehended country. for a second time, he runs into Pamela (the RICHARD’s LIFE just got a little more lovely stranger from the train), and the interesting! pair are handcuffed together before they once again escape (she, by the way, hates NOTHING COULD prepare him, however, every minute of it). They end up in an inn for what would happen in the middle of where Pamela begins to see that all may not the night—Annabella falling over dead be what it seems. She’s able to slip out of before his eyes, stabbed in the back! With the handcuffs and they part ways the next national security on the line, Richard must morning. set off quickly for Professor Jordan, a name Annabella mentioned the evening before. RICHARD ENDS UP returning to the place What is the information that Annabella was this whole mess started—the Mr.