'The 39 Steps' opens on March 4

MANILA, Philippines - Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have the intriguing, thrilling, riotous comedy smash, The 39 Steps.

The 39 Steps is the second offering of Repertory Philippines for the 2011 season that promises to be a blissfully funny show and a wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thrillers at breakneck speed, and played for laughs all the way.

A comic theatrical adaptation written by Patrick Barlow adapted from the 1915 World War I espionage noel by Scottish author John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock, The 39 Steps has a cast of four fearless actors playing over 140 characters in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun that often requires fast quick changes and occasionally for them to play multiple characters at once.

The 39 Steps follows the incredible adventures of a handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

To be directed by Ana Abad Santos, The 39 Steps features an amazingly brilliant cast with Michael Williams playing the hero, Richard Hannay. Last seen on the Rep stage as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Michael also directed the multi-award winning Sondheim hit.

Marking her return to the Philippine theatre after living in London for the past 10 years is Liza Infante who plays the three women whom Richard has romantic entanglements with. The year 2000 marked Liza’s departure to study in London and her last Rep performance was in Once Upon A Mattress as Winnifred. Audiences remember her memorable roles as Julie Jordan in Carousel and Nelly Forbush in South Pacific.

Rem Zamora and Juliene Mendoza play every other character in the show: heroes, villains, men, women, performing stunts and changing accents.

Co-presented by Enderun and the City of Makati, The 39 Steps features the artistic and creative team led by Baby Barredo (artistic director), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (associate artistic director), Ana Abad Santos (director), Trineth Villasis (assistant director), John Batalla (lighting designer), Denis Lagdameo (set designer), Jethro Joaquin (sound designer), Raven Ong (costume designer), Denis Lagdameo and Gianina Ocampo (puppet animation).

The 39 Steps production staff is composed of Gidget Tolentino (production manager), Ayam Barredo (company manager), Raymond Vergara (stage manager), Pol Roxas (sound technician), Pablito Salvador (lighting technician) and Adul Lasin (set execution and scenic artist).

Show dates are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. All performances are at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.

For tickets and inquiries, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926 and 571-4941 or e-mail info@repertory.ph. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

The 39 Steps is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Limited.