Broadway’s longest-running comedy, “The 39 Steps,” is now wowing audiences at the Waterfront Playhouse through January 12. This hilarious take on Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1935 movie is really about the magic of theater as only four actors create an entire “movie experience” live on stage. Variety said “‘The 39 Steps is a giddy display of theatrical invention” and The New York Times called the show “theater at its finest.”

Take a juicy spy novel, mix in a generous dose of Monty Python, sprinkle with theatrical dazzle, bake with high energy, and the result is “The 39 Steps.” Winner of Tony, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards, “The 39 Steps” is packed with non-stop laughs featuring over 100 eccentric characters, an onstage train chase, a plane crash, handcuffs, evil-doers, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance. 

The New York Times raved the play absurdly enjoyable. “This gleefully theatrical riff on Hitchcock’s film is fast and furious, performed by a cast of four that seems like a cast of thousands.” Brandon Beach plays Richard Hannay, a man bored with his life and longing for adventure. He meets a mysterious and glamorous German spy at a theater, of course. The spy is played by Erin McKenna, who also plays the other female love interests, a shy Scottish farm wife and Pamela, the ubiquitous Hitchcock blonde. When the spy is murdered in his apartment, Hannay begins to run for his life, as well as attempting to save the British Empire. David Black and J. B. McLendon play over a 100 characters who help tell the story: lingerie salesmen, Scottish inn keepers, thugs, vaudevillians, women, policemen and at one point, an out-of-control stream!

The play doesn’t mock the movie, but rather takes the film dialogue as a jumping off place for comic mayhem. Shameless stereotypes, over-the-top accents and physical gags help spoof the Hitchcock style and genre. There are cheeky allusions, winks and puns on the titles of other Hitchcock films, including “Rear Window,” “Psycho,” “Strangers on a Train” and “North by Northwest.”

Heading up “The 39 Steps” is Waterfront artistic director Danny Weathers who says, “Audiences are going to have an unforgettable evening with ‘The 39 Steps.’ The actors are phenomenal and the brilliant design work of Michael Boyer’s set, Leigh Hooten’s costumes, Kim Hanson’s lighting, Carmen Rodriguez’s props, Trish Manley’s stage management and the sound design by Dan Simpson and myself, all add to the wildly inventive theater magic.”

The production is sponsored by Conch Color and opening night, December 20, features a gala postperformance party sponsored and catered by Michael’s Restaurant in honor of long-time board president Henry Woods.

Season sponsors are Digital Island Media, Wodu Media and Royal Furniture.

“The 39 Steps” is perfect for the whole family and tickets make an ideal holiday gift. Gift certificates available and printable online at waterfrontplayhouse. org or by calling the box office, (305)294- 5015. Student, military and senior rates also available as well as Friday Night Date Night ticket special.

Tickets, memberships, subscriptions and other information also available on the website or by calling the box office. Tickets sell quickly.