Bold steps to stage classic spy thriller

Micheal Fleming (left), Edward Carleton-Holmes, Owen Potter and Emma Walker. Photo / Supplied

Four actors with nearly 40 roles between them spread across 32 scenes makes for one rather technically demanding production.

Terry Coyle is at the helm of the production in question: The 39 Steps, opening at the Waipukurau Little Theatre next Wednesday.

The original spy thriller story, nearly 100 years old, spawned four film versions of which this stage spoof, written by Patrick Barlow and others, has been taken from the famous Alfred Hitchcock film adaptation of the mid-1930s.

In the lead role of the middle-upper-class hero, Richard Hannay, is Micheal Fleming.

He is the only cast member to literally wear only one hat, with Emma Walker having to switch characters and accents for three of the female roles - Annabella, Pamela and Margaret, and Owen Potter and Edward Carleton-Holmes sharing 30-plus roles, including portraying some inanimate objects.

Hannay claims to lead a dull and boring life and wants a bit of excitement. In a case of being careful of what you wish for, he becomes entwined in a dastardly plot to whisk top secret military information out of the country and has three romantic entanglements.

Loaded with plenty of references to different Hitchcock movies, the music and physical humour is a huge part of what makes this show such a comedy, he says. With such rapid fire scene changes, the cast also double as stage crew as there just isn't enough time for one to do the many tasks at hand. "The challenge is not just learning lines and acting, it's the whole physicality of it."

The former furniture-maker and designer turned teacher has put his design skills to good use, making some of the props including a scale model replica of a Sopworth Camel, a World War I biplane that "chases" Hannay in one scene.

A technology and design teacher and Year 12 dean at Central Hawke's Bay College, his old school, for the past 13 years, Fleming first tried acting while a student there. After reviving his stage skills for a school event, he was encouraged to try out for Waipawa Musical and Dramatic Society's Jekyll and Hyde nearly 10 years ago. He expected to be in the chorus but wound up with a solo part.

Since then, Fleming has appeared in many of the society's shows, including Oliver, Blood Brothers and Tommy.

While its theatre was closed for renovations, he tried out for Waipukurau Little Theatre productions, and last year appeared as Billy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, and Whatever, also directed by Coyle.

He says it's great not only to have something to enjoy outside of work but to work alongside people with professional experience.

The 39 Steps, Waipukurau Little Theatre, 7.30pm, October 31-November 9. Tickets $20-$25, $45 on dinner nights, from ColourPlus Waipukurau.

The theatre is also holding a charity performance on October 30 to fundraise for Central Hawke's Bay College Year 12 history and classics students' trip to Turkey, Greece and Italy in 2014. For more info, phone the school on (06) 8589203.