HDA Steps into the Spotlight with “The 39 Steps”

 

Director Hope Hartup said her main reason for choosing “The 39 Steps” was that she “wanted a change of pace. I thought that in terms of the season of shows that we had chosen…it was time for a comedy.” This school year, HDA has already performed “The Tempest” and “Cabaret,” both of which are more serious productions, so Hartup believed that “The 39 Steps” will be a welcome change of pace. “There’s an improvisational feel to the show that I think is lots of fun,” she explained. Ava Morello ’27, who plays Pamela, agreed that “The 39 Steps” is the right choice for the spring play and described the show as “a really fun, comedic play. It’s fast paced, it’s very witty, there’s a lot of physical comedy, as well as...a lot of imagination.” 

“The 39 Steps” will feature a unique type of set. According to Hartup, the show is “very spare in terms of set pieces.” Some set pieces will be “reconfigured [...] to be different locations” due to the large number of places represented in the show. Despite the lack of scenery, various other technical elements will help bring the show to life. Technical Director David Kenton acknowledged that “a lot of this show is going to be really dependent on sound” to help “set the scene…There are over 200 sound cues in the show.” He explained how the use of sound will enhance the production: “It’s a very farcical comedy, so a lot of that plays in with little sound effects here and there, [and] there’s a lot of recording that we will be doing for some of the actors.” 

Instead of relying heavily on set pieces to transport the audience to the world of the show, the actors will also have to employ their miming and physical comedy skills. “It’s really up to the audience...to imagine where the characters are,” Morello revealed. She described a scene in the play where cast members have to pretend to be “on a train, so, physically, we have to bounce up and down...and pretend to open the train door...so there’s a lot of miming”, which can prove to be tricky for the actors. Ashvin van Bladel ’27, who plays protagonist Richard Hannay, admitted, “I don’t know how that [scene is] going to work with the set, but I hope we can make it work, and I think we can.”

Another difficulty the actors must overcome is perfecting the accents of the characters they portray. “We’re definitely working on our accents…especially switching between accents, [which] is really hard,” said Morello. Because the show takes place in multiple locations throughout the United Kingdom, cast members have to speak in various accents such as British and Scottish. For Morello, the “Scottish accent is very hard...but with a lot of practice, it’s going to be great.”

Despite the challenges the cast and crew face, Hartup is confident that the final product will be worth it. “When the flow [of the scenes] comes together, the magic of moving from one location to another...is going to be really entertaining and a lot of fun for the [actors] to perform,” she explained. Crew member Ananya Biederer ’28 said, “Everybody has tried so hard to make this a show that [the audience will] enjoy.” 

As the performances draw nearer, the cast and crew are eager to share the result of all their work with the Hopkins community. Van Bladel believed “all the jokes [will] land with the audience.” Biederer wishes the audience “will react wonderfully [to the set] because we [have spent] a whole lot of time on it.” Additionally, the cast hopes the viewers appreciate their commitment. Morello wants the audience to enjoy “the creativity of all the actors and how much hard work we put into it.” 

As anticipation rises among the Hopkins community, the cast and crew continue to perfect every aspect of “The 39 Steps.” By using an imaginative set, physical comedy, and exquisite acting, HDA hopes to dazzle once again on the stage. Hartup reflected on what the audience should expect from “The 39 Steps”: “It’s going to be a really funny night in the theater!”