FOLLOW “THE 39 STEPS” TO FUN AND MYSTERY AT MTC

Did you ever desire to be a clandestine secret spy?  Have you ever envied Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Fletcher? Would examining clues and dusting for fingerprints be a glorious hoot of fun?  Are you addicted, even a little, to all the crime solving stories on television?  If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then Music Theatre of Connecticut has the perfect entertainment evening for you.  John Buchan’s “The 39 Steps” is ready to intrigue you, confuse you, confound you and delight you until Sunday, March 18 at MTC’s intimate Norwalk studio.

Four talented actors are prepared to change hats, don a mustache, put on a wig, change clothes, adapt a new accent and generally become an entirely new persona as the comic mystery unfolds.  Gary Lindemann presents himself as Richard Hannay, a Brit who is bored and tired of his humdrum life. He yearns for change.  This is a perfect example of being careful what you wish for as before you can say “Life is dull” three times, Hannay is concealing a woman of dubious character who has a message of doom for the country of England and quickly dies in his arms.

Now suspected of her murder, Hannay is off and running…for his life and to find the solution to the puzzle of the man with a missing little finger who is plotting to destroy the country.  Think of a game of CLUE that has run amok. In a humorous homage to Alfred Hitchcock, Hannay and a trio of cohorts:  Laura Cable, Matt Densky and Jim Schilling set off at a brisk pace, leaping off bridges and on to trains, across the moors to Scotland, stopping at farms and grand houses along the way, catching a plane, escaping from windows, all the time trying to evade the police and arrest.

This fast paced suspenseful and silly slapstick ride is an adaptation by Patrick Barlow, based on an original concept by Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble, from the novel by John Buchan and the 1935 movie of the same name. Starting from the time Hannay attends a performance at the London Palladium, where he witnesses a performance by Mr. Memory until the moment all the evidence falls neatly into place, you will be rooting for Hannay to succeed in his quest and secure the love of Pamela along the adventurous way.

Come witness the split timing schedule as a trio of actors play dozens of roles, from milkmen to motormen, mothers to Mr. Memory, as they romp across the countryside. Pamela Hill directs this merry go round of murder and mayhem with aplomb.

For tickets ($30-55), call Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Avenue, (behind Nine West Shoes) Norwalk at 203-454-3883 or online at www.musictheatreofct.com.  Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Come discover for yourself how biscuits and bagpipes, haddock and handcuffs, underwear salesmen and undercover agents, play a significant role in this whistle-while-you-work theatrical tour de force event. Be sure to have your ears tuned to pick up all the references to Hitchcock hits sprinkled liberally throughout this wild and wooly whodunit.