Review: THE 39 STEPS/IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A Life Radio Play Double Bill, Old Joint Stock Theatre
Prepare to feel nostalgic, The Old Joint Stock transports us back to the 1930s to experience a double bill radio play extravaganza. Throughout, we see the same five actors perform. During the first half it’s The 39 Steps but after the interval, they set a rather different and festive scene during their take of It’s A Wonderful Life.
The 39 Steps, made famous by Alfred Hitchcock, features Richard Hannay who becomes embroiled in an international spy ring. He witnesses a murder, a stabbing no less, and assisted by a woman named Pamela, begins to piece the puzzle together to discover the mysterious ’39 steps’. Multiple productions of this show have been produced since the first film aired in 1935, but what made this any different?
Well, in this production, we are the studio audience. There are signs to applaud and to tell us that we are on air. Three microphones take centre stage and behind that, a table for sound effects. The cast are simply stunning throughout. So many voices and characters to portray in 2 hours 15 minutes and yet, they manage it. During this half, we are visited by several American commercials during the radio story, this is hilariously demonstrated with many continents being visited through voice. The staging of this piece is clever and well used, which is no easy feat due to the small space. Despite the wonderful voice acting, the first half feels a little static. The cast are on stage the whole time and if they’re not talking, they are listening or making sound effects (including a group of rowdy sheep being shot!) However, it is often unclear if they are in character as an actor on a radio show or in character as a character in the story, and this proves a little distracting and confusing at times.
In the second half of the show, we visit the story of It’s A Wonderful Life. This well-known story focuses on the main character, George Bailey. George is thinking of ending things on Christmas Eve and his guardian angel tries to stop him by showing him what life would have been like if he had never been born. The pace feels much quicker and the sound effects are more engaging here. When George is walking through the snow, we see our actors crunching cornflakes. The use of music during this half is a clever touch and as we reach the end of our story during George’s epiphany, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ plays and there isn’t a dry eye in the house.
Two radio plays in one show is an odd concept and it doesn’t quite hit the mark, although it has bags of potential due to its incredible cast. The second half is much stronger and we highly recommend going. Whether you’re feeling festive or bah humbug, George’s tale is worth a watch and a tear or two.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton
The 39 Steps/It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Double Bill plays at the Old Joint Stock in Birmingham until 24 December, with tickets available here.