Broadway-Aimed London Hit THE 39 STEPS Nabs Original Star for Boston Cast

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:09pm

Original London star Charles Edwards will head the cast for the Broadway-bound Hitchcockian thriller THE 39 STEPS to play at Boston's Huntington Theatre Company.

Maria Aitkin, director of the original London production, reprises her role for the Boston run, set to start Sept. 14. It will play at the company's Boston University Theatre mainstage through Oct. 14.

Patrick Barlow's adaptation of THE 39 STEPS is based on the best-selling novel penned by John Buchan in 1915 and then adapted for the big screen for the Alfred Hitchcock 1935 film. THE 39 STEPS is billed as "a hilarious whodunit, part espionage thriller and part slapstick comedy."
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The four actors playing more than 150 roles will feature original London star Charles Edwards (as Richard Hannay), Jennifer Ferrin (as Annabella, Pamela and Margaret) with Cliff Saunders and Arnie Burton as the clowns.

The work was first seen at London's Tricycle Theatre in 2006. A Huntington press release states, "After its American premiere at the Huntington, THE 39 STEPS will be produced on Broadway by Bob Boyett."

After its bow at Tricycle, THE 39 STEPS transferred to The West End's Criterion Theatre and earned the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.
Broadway-Aimed London Hit THE 39 STEPS Nabs Original Star for Boston Cast

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:12pm

Wanna Be - Thanks !

***************

Oh my ! I have a ticket for this ...my friend who works for Huntington gave me an opening night tix .. cant wait !!! I am soo excited

Is this sure for Broadway ? as in they have a theater already ???

J*
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 04:12 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:32pm

They don't appear to have booked a theatre yet. I don't even think there would be one available to book yet at this point. But my guess is that they're waiting to see how American critics receive the piece in Boston before they make definite plans for Broadway.

Any number of upcoming Broadway plays may fail and open up a theatre. THE SEAFARER might not last and open up the Booth; NOVEMBER may not last and open up the Barrymore; THE HOMECOMING is a limited run through April 13th at The Cort, and nothing is booked after that point yet, so that one may be a possibility; IS HE DEAD? could fail at the Lyceum; THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION could fail at The Music Box.

It would definitely be nice to have a comedy play on Broadway again.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:38pm

I agree

and Let's not forget that "Butley" with Nathan Lane was premiered in Boston's Huntington Theater in 2003 and was transfered on Broadway last season and we all know what happened to Nathan Lane's Butley on Broadway !

J*
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 04:38 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 6:34pm

>Let's not forget that "Butley" with Nathan Lane was premiered in Boston's Huntington Theater in 2003 and was transfered on Broadway last season and we all know what happened to Nathan Lane's Butley on Broadway !<

It played through its limited engagement and recouped?

39 Steps has a home for New York, and it will be announced soon.

And the Booth and Barrymore both have spring tenants.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 7:42pm

I've already got my ticket :)

[jaystarr]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 8:03pm

Smaxie - Thanks for clarifying it

Alliez- What day are you going ? bec. I might have a extra ticket ....

J*
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 08:03 PM

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:33pm

I plan on Bostix-ing this one. Vair excited!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 10:53pm

Smaxie, I was under the impression that NOVEMBER and THE SEAFARER were open runs. Are they limited?

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/24/07 at 11:13pm

According to playbill.com, they're both open-runs but sometimes playbill.com gets it wrong.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 12:21am

Jaystarr- if you had an extra ticket, I would be happy to take it off your hands. :)

It sounds interesting. I will definitely be going.