{"id":167393,"date":"2025-09-12T10:47:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T00:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?p=167393"},"modified":"2025-09-12T12:00:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T02:00:08","slug":"the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slick and oh so cleverly acted and staged, this enticing parody of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock movie is riotously funny. Patrick Barlow\u2019s adaptation of the 1915 novel by Scottish author John Buchan, brings slapstick humour to the mystery crime thriller and it works brilliantly. It is August 1935 and 47-year-old Richard Hannay (Ian Stenlake) lives in a rented London flat. Bored and tired, nothing means much to him anymore. On a whim, he decides to take in a night at the theatre. That is when all hell breaks loose.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photos by Cameron Grant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An exotic, thickly accented woman, Annabella Schmidt (Lisa McCune), who Richard doesn\u2019t know, sits down beside him and fires a gun, causing panic. Clearly fearful, she pleads with Richard to let her go home with him. There, she tells him she is being followed and watched. He confirms that by peering through the blinds. She spins a yarn about secret agents and an Englishman she must visit in Scotland. She utters the words \u201cThe 39 Steps\u201d, but before Richard can find out what that means, she is dead.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Richard feels compelled to follow the thin lead Annabella gave him and high tails it to Scotland, with the police in hot pursuit. With Richard the prime suspect in Annabella\u2019s murder, Scotland Yard is not about to let up until they get their man. Only there are far more sinister forces at play.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Requiring only four actors who tackle 130 madcap characters with gusto, the original concept and production were the work of Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon. The 39 Steps premiered in rural England in 1996, but Patrick Barlow rewrote the adaption we see at Comedy Theatre in 2005. It played continuously in the West End between 2006 and 2015. That version won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2007 and two Tony Awards the following year. It is not hard to see why.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With references to other Alfred Hitchcock movies, The 39 Steps is witty and wild. The intrigue is there from the get-go. I yearned to get to the bottom of just what Annabella Schmidt was on about. The play is full of high paced action, with super quick character changes, performed with alacrity and precision.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The performances from a richly talented cast, which includes The Umbilical Brothers \u2013 David Collins and Shane Dundas \u2013 are superb. Individually and collectively, they, Ian Stenlake and Lisa McCune are at the top of their game. The often-exaggerated personas, which incorporate changing vocalisation, are so well realised. Among the many highlights of a highlight rich show are the scenes aboard a train. Very cleverly conceived and executed. In fact, genius.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

James Browne deserves high praise for his masterful costuming and monochromatic set design. He blends vintage film techniques with classic theatre craft and uses shadow play to great effect. Music, sound effects and lighting also have significant roles to play, enhancing the overall experience. Brady Watkins is the sound designer and composer, while Matthew Marshall is responsible for the lighting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Director Damien Ryan brings spark and heightened reality to the fore in a major theatrical triumph. The 39 Steps is superlative, off the wall entertainment. It is playing at Comedy Theatre until 4th October, before heading to QPAC Playhouse in Brisbane from 7th to 19th October, 2025.<\/p>\n

Alex First<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Slick and oh so cleverly acted and staged, this enticing parody of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock movie is riotously funny. Patrick Barlow\u2019s adaptation of the 1915 novel by Scottish author John Buchan, brings slapstick humour to the mystery crime thriller and it works brilliantly. It is August 1935 and 47-year-old Richard Hannay (Ian Stenlake) lives…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":167394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[801],"tags":[21,594,582,2804,9904,11330],"class_list":["post-167393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theatre","tag-comedy","tag-comedy-theatre","tag-ian-stenlake","tag-lisa-mccune","tag-the-39-steps","tag-the-umbilical-brothers"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Slick and oh so cleverly acted and staged, this enticing parody of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock movie is riotously funny. Patrick Barlow\u2019s adaptation of the 1915 novel by Scottish author John Buchan, brings slapstick humour to the mystery crime thriller and it works brilliantly. It is August 1935 and 47-year-old Richard Hannay (Ian Stenlake) lives...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alex First\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alex First\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Alex First\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4\"},\"headline\":\"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":555,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"comedy\",\"Comedy Theatre\",\"Ian Stenlake\",\"Lisa McCune\",\"The 39 Steps\",\"The Umbilical Brothers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Theatre\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/\",\"name\":\"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/\",\"name\":\"\",\"description\":\"Australian arts & entertainment reviews\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4\",\"name\":\"Alex First\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Alex First\"},\"description\":\"Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/firstcommunications.com.au\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/theblurb.com.au\\\/wp\\\/author\\\/alexfirst\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -","og_description":"Slick and oh so cleverly acted and staged, this enticing parody of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock movie is riotously funny. Patrick Barlow\u2019s adaptation of the 1915 novel by Scottish author John Buchan, brings slapstick humour to the mystery crime thriller and it works brilliantly. It is August 1935 and 47-year-old Richard Hannay (Ian Stenlake) lives...","og_url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","article_published_time":"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":533,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Alex First","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Alex First","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/"},"author":{"name":"Alex First","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4"},"headline":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605","datePublished":"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/"},"wordCount":555,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1","keywords":["comedy","Comedy Theatre","Ian Stenlake","Lisa McCune","The 39 Steps","The Umbilical Brothers"],"articleSection":["Theatre"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","name":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) - theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 -","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1","datePublished":"2025-09-12T00:47:29+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-12T02:00:08+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1","width":800,"height":533},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-comedy-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The 39 Steps (Comedy Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/#website","url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/","name":"","description":"Australian arts & entertainment reviews","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/#\/schema\/person\/485a03a567664eed5233363f88ed35a4","name":"Alex First","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d6c07f6ab1e27d55a9fc81f09b51709069a83a382270fbe4f25a1b8ffec9185f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Alex First"},"description":"Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.","sameAs":["http:\/\/firstcommunications.com.au"],"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/author\/alexfirst\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_1the_cast_of_the_39_steps_c_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8513,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/33-variations-comedy-theatre-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":0},"title":"33 Variations (Comedy Theatre) – theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"March 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The complexities of music, human relationships and health all get a working over in Moises Kaufman\u2019s 33 Variations, featuring Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn. In the early 19th Century, Anton Diabelli (Francis Greenslade) is a Viennese music publisher who composes a simple waltz and then invites that city\u2019s leading composers to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/33-Variations-03.jpg?fit=898%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/33-Variations-03.jpg?fit=898%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/33-Variations-03.jpg?fit=898%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/33-Variations-03.jpg?fit=898%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":167210,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-play-that-goes-wrong-athenaeum-theatre-and-touring-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":1},"title":"The Play That Goes Wrong (Athenaeum Theatre and touring) – theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd","author":"Alex First","date":"September 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"If you are into slapstick humour, you are going to have a ball. This riotous theatrical disaster is stumbling its way around Australia and has just opened in Melbourne. The premise is straight forward enough, but its execution something else entirely. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is attempting to stage\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_the_play_that_goes_wrong_photo_credit_jordan_munns-28.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_the_play_that_goes_wrong_photo_credit_jordan_munns-28.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_the_play_that_goes_wrong_photo_credit_jordan_munns-28.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rsz_the_play_that_goes_wrong_photo_credit_jordan_munns-28.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":166879,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/in-the-heights-comedy-theatre-and-touring-musical-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":2},"title":"In the Heights (Comedy Theatre and touring) – musical theatre review \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd","author":"Alex First","date":"August 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The singing and dancing in this Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) musical spectacular is off the charts. Featuring a blend of hip-hop and Latin rhythms \u2013 salsa, merengue and samba \u2013 it is an energetic and colourful cultural celebration, marked by superb performances. It is clear why In the Heights, which opened\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_in_the_heights_ryan_gonzalez_and_ensemble.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_in_the_heights_ryan_gonzalez_and_ensemble.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_in_the_heights_ryan_gonzalez_and_ensemble.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_in_the_heights_ryan_gonzalez_and_ensemble.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":154873,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/the-39-steps-chapel-off-chapel-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":3},"title":"The 39 Steps (Chapel Off Chapel) – theatre review","author":"Alex First","date":"March 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"An adaptation of acclaimed film director Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s 1935 movie The 39 Steps, Hearth Theatre\u2019s production of the parody is riotously funny.\u00a0Patrick Barlow\u2019s work from the 1915 novel by Scottish author John Buchan, brings slapstick humour to the mystery crime thriller \u2026 and it works b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l-l-y. Single, handsome, 6 foot\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_sorab_kaikobad_and_yvette_turner_in_the_39_steps_credit_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_sorab_kaikobad_and_yvette_turner_in_the_39_steps_credit_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_sorab_kaikobad_and_yvette_turner_in_the_39_steps_credit_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rsz_sorab_kaikobad_and_yvette_turner_in_the_39_steps_credit_cameron_grant.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4782,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/39-steps-qt-theatre-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":4},"title":"The 39 Steps (QT) – theatre review","author":"David Edwards","date":"March 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Queensland Theatre is putting the emphasis on fast and furious fun at the Cremorne Theatre as the comic adaptation of John Buchan\u2019s novel and Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s film, The 39 Steps, woos capacity audiences. The Master of Suspense brought John Buchan\u2019s much loved 1915 Boys\u2019 Own story to the big screen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/39_Steps-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/39_Steps-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/39_Steps-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/39_Steps-03.jpg?fit=1024%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":167050,"url":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/dial-m-for-murder-theatre-works-%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85\/","url_meta":{"origin":167393,"position":5},"title":"Dial M for Murder (Theatre Works) \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605","author":"Alex First","date":"August 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A murderous plan, oh most foul. That is at the heart of Dial M for Murder, written by Frederick Knott in 1952 and popularised by Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s suspenseful movie two years later. TV crime writer Max Halliday (Leon Walshe) visits Margot Wendice (Bridget Bourke) in her London apartment a year\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Theatre"","block_context":{"text":"Theatre","link":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/category\/theatre\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_murder_63_of_132_1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_murder_63_of_132_1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_murder_63_of_132_1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsz_murder_63_of_132_1.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblurb.com.au\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}