D i s G c o u v i d e r e y Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the film by Alfred Hitchcock based on the novel by John Buchan Directed by Sean Daniels P.L.A.Y. (Performance = Literature + Art + You) Student Matinee Series 2013-2014 Season Passport Program Sponsor P.L.A.Y. Student Matinee Series Sponsor 1 Table of WDearelcome back! Educators, It’s the start of a fresh school year full of new faces and possibilities, the Contents autumn air is cool and crisp, the scenery outside is shifting, and there’s a world of surprises and unknowns on the horizon. And just in time too. In the last few weeks of any Who, What, season, even summer, I find myself feeling restless and ready for a change of pace or a new When & Where. 2 adventure….much like our story’s hero, Richard Hannay, a man who finds himself mixed up in an escapade more epic than he bargained for. “This show is “Engage students through rigorous and relevant instruction” – have you heard that saying a puzzle ...”. 3 before? During the first two weeks of the rehearsal process, I sat in on rehearsals a handful of times. The two phrases I heard most from the show’s director, Sean Daniels, were “Is there a funnier way to do this?” and “Why are you doing that?” Buchan, Hitchcock This show, as actor Aaron Muñoz told me, is a mental workout. “It’s built to break,” added & Barlow. 4 Daniels. And because the show is so astonishingly rigorous, no two performances are going to be exactly alike. The actors - and the audience - really have to use their brains and stay From Page on their toes, which is precisely the fun of it. to Screen Rigorous we’ve got covered, but how is this show relevant, especially to our student to Stage . 5 audiences who (presumably) are not accidental pseudo secret agents dashing across Scotland, wrongfully accused of murder and handcuffed to their worst nightmare? As Borrowing Daniels puts it, “It’s easy to identify with these characters, feeling bored with life, and then Style . 6 feeling as though things are happening out of your control while you try to regain who you are.” Does this sound like the start of the school year for anyone you know? Hitchcock’s Humor also helps us make relevant connections. Comedy is universal. If we can find a Storytelling funnier way to do things onstage, we can also find a way into the minds and memories of Essentials . 6 our student audiences. We relate to things that make us laugh and things we understand. That’s why it’s essential that Sean continue to pepper the actors with “How can we make Espionage in this funnier?” and the almighty “Why?” the 1930s. 7 Concise, well-established motivations lead to clarity, understanding, and humor - which lead to increased rigor and relevance - which lead to memorable connections and learning. Where in the And I think The 39 Steps is an awfully fun way to learn about adaptations, style, inventive World is Richard problem solving, and Europe in the 1930s! Hannay? . 8 At the first rehearsal, Sean said, “As the director, it’s not my job to have the best idea in the room. It’s my job to hear the best idea in the room.” This philosophy of collaboration seems Celebrating to have produced quite the rigorous and relevant show on our stage, and we can’t wait to Theatricality . 8 share it with you! Wishing you and your students a school year full of rigor, humor, clarity, understanding, relevance, collaboration, and excellent learning. We’ll see you From the Costume at the theatre. Designer . 9 Sincerely, Participation in this production From the Scenic and supplemental activities Designer . 9 suggested in this guide support the following Lara Rhyner From the Stage NYS Learning Standards: Manager . 10 Associate Director of Education [email protected] A: 1, 2, 3, 4; SS: 2, 3; (585) 420-2058 ELA: 1, 2, 3, 4; CDOS: 1, 2 Resources. 10 “There’s a dangerous conspiracy against this island and we’re the only people who can stop it.” – Richard Hannay 2 Words to Know Who, What, When & Where * Biscuit – cookie Time: 1935 * Blimey – British expression of Location: England and Scotland excitement or alarm * Communication cord – Synopsis: Richard Hannay, a man bored with the world, attends the Mr. a pull cord that Memory show on London’s West End. At the theatre, gunshots ring out stops the train in and a mysterious woman pleads with Hannay to take her back to his an emergency apartment. The woman, Annabella, a secret agent, reveals the basis of her * Compere – host of highly confidential espionage mission to Hannay, leaving him with a variety show * Corker – something several vital clues – the 39 Steps and Alt-na-Schallach - before she is remarkable murdered by two thugs during the night. Accepting the challenge of the * Crikey – expression dire situation at hand, Hannay flees London by way of a train to Scotland. of surprise * Crofter – a tenant who Aboard the train Hannay meets Pamela, under less than John Gregorio as… works a small farm in * Richard Hannay ideal circumstances. She turns Hannay in to the police, the Scottish Highlands who are misguidedly on his trail for the murder of Annabella. Hannay * Flat – apartment escapes the train, taking refuge in a cottage with a tenant farmer and his * Haddock and Herring wife, Margaret, who believes in his innocence and helps him flee again – types of fish * Hymn book – book when the police show up, still in vigilant pursuit of him. containing religious Upon finally reaching Alt-na-Schallach to continue Annabella’s mission, songs of praise Hannay realizes he has walked into a trap. He is arrested, escapes from * Impertinent – rude * Inveterate – having Monica West as… the police, and is accidentally mistaken for a prominent public official in a persistent habit * Annabella an assembly hall where he encounters Pamela again, much to her great * Itinerant – traveling Schmidt * Pamela dismay. Pamela turns Hannay over to the authorities once more - this time from place to place * Margaret to two heavies posing as policemen. They insist that Pamela accompany * Lavatory – bathroom Hannay to the police station to identify him. As it * Liverish – ill, unhappy, bad tempered becomes apparent to Hannay that these are not real police men and that * Loch – lake they are not headed to a real police station, the heavies decide to * Manacled - handcuffed handcuff Pamela to Hannay for safe-keeping when they are stopped by a * Mein Leibling – flock of sheep in the road. At this opportune moment of chaos, Hannay German for “my dear” forces Pamela to run from the heavies, crossing an obstacle-laden moor, * Moors – broad expans- es of uncultivated land while still handcuffed to him. * Old Country – England The pair rent a hotel room for the night, posing as a runaway couple. * Pound note – English Aaron Muñoz as… While Hannay sleeps, Pamela slips out of the handcuffs and attempts to currency equivalent * Mr. Memory of a dollar bill * Milkman leave, but upon overhearing the two heavies, in the lobby of the hotel, * Rouge – blush speaking on the phone about the nefarious 39 Steps plot, she realizes * Salesman 1 * Paperboy makeup for cheeks Hannay has been telling the truth. Pamela returns to the room and * Policeman 1 * Shakedown – Hannay decides he must stop at nothing to clear his name and expose the * Radio Announcer 2 improvised bed criminals before it is too late. Clues lead the pair to the London Palladium * Crofter * Scotland Yard – * Pilot 1 headquarters of the to unravel the mystery. u * Sheriff London Police * Mrs. Jordan * Tara – British slang Joel Van Liew * Mr. McQuarrie * Heavy 1 for “goodbye” as… * Radio Announcer * Professor Jordan * Tidy pile – money * Compere * Pilot 2 * Sheep * Mrs. McGarrigle * Mrs. Higgins * Inspector * Mr. McGarrigle * Reindeer * Vertigo – dizzy feeling * Salesman 2 * Master of * Detective * Usherette * Vicinity – * Porter Ceremonies Superintendent * Baby 2 surrounding area * Policeman 2 * Heavy 2 * Baby 1 * Wunderbar – German for “wonderful” “The Thirty Nine Steps? I tell you Mr. Hannay. You will never EVER KNOW!” - Professor Jordan 3 “This show is a puzzle ...” Director Sean Daniels, actor Monica West, costume of a show where you have to figure out how to create designer Jen Caprio, and stage manager Frank Cavallo moment after moment, continually topping yourself. It’s share some of their insights into Geva’s The 39 Steps ... also a great play for designers as it asks them to solve scene after scene, and keep reinventing the show at …on what is most exciting and unique about each scene. Geva’s production of The 39 Steps JC: The challenge in this play lies more with doing what JC: Comedy. Comedy is important. Comedy is smart. is unexpected, and how. The quick changes and what Comedy is hard work. Sean’s creative energy as a props and other materials are needed have been figured comedic director is unmatched, and it's rare to have out, so we have a bit of a roadmap. The part that is someone that takes comedy so seriously. Find joy in the creative for us is what that roadmap gets to look like. element of surprise. FC: Specifically plotting every movement of the actors, SD: Our production is a real celebration of theatrical crew, scenery, and dozens upon dozens of props and ways of presenting cinematic ideas. Lots of us figuring costume pieces from the top of the show, through 35 out how to tell the story of certain movie moments scenes, to the end, while working out how it can through the lens of what works in a theatre.