We can all use a good laugh right about now and the four main performers plus one understudy in The 39 Steps at the Chemainus Theatre are prepared to deliver.
Running from April 22 to May 22, the 39 Steps is the first full play in more than two years at the theatre since the Marvelous Wonderettes was abruptly halted before its conclusion in 2020 due to the arrival of the COVID pandemic.
鈥淲ith all the drama in our daily lives, we think the hilarious romp The 39 Steps is a perfect tonic to momentarily escape the current state of world affairs and rediscover the world of live theatre,鈥� noted managing director Randy Huber.
鈥淧hysical theatre and its comic potential have been a personal passion for quite some time,鈥� added artistic director Mark DuMez. 鈥淧utting together this show is a laughter exercise.鈥�
The show stars Aidan deSalaiz as Richard Hannay, Alexandra Brynn as Pamela/Annabelle/Margaret, Caitlin Driscoll as Clown 1, Felix LeBlanc as Clown 2 and understudy Stephen Thakker in roles as Hannay, Clown 1 and 2.
鈥淗annay is caught in the middle of a wild plot,鈥� explains DuMez. 鈥淎ll the characters he meets, played by this fine company of comics, support his getting to the bottom of the mystery. We watch tumbles and transformations through it and fill in the blanks with our imaginations.鈥�
There may be only a handful of actors in the play, but they combine to play countless different characters.
The two female cast members both have Island connections. Brynn is from Nanaimo and Driscoll was born in Victoria before moving to Ontario at a young age.
Brynn, 30, always dreamt of performing at the Chemainus Theatre and here she is.
鈥淚鈥檝e been seeing shows at Chemainus since I was a little kid,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 kind of coming back to my hometown theatre.
鈥淚t feels really nice. My parents are really excited. I鈥檓 staying with them at the moment.鈥�
Acting, Brynn added, 鈥渋t鈥檚 always been in my blood. My parents, they don鈥檛 understand what I do, but they鈥檙e proud nonetheless. I started community theatre when I was seven years old.鈥�
Brynn went to drama school in Montreal to obtain a Masters in acting and later spent three years in the United Kingdom.
She was also stationed in Toronto for three years and recently finished a run with Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.
Brynn is excited about performing in The 39 Steps.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a comedy which I think is very much needed after the pandemic and watching everything going on in the world right now,鈥� she said.
Brynn plays three different characters, utilizing three wigs and making very quick changes. 鈥淭hat adds to the comedy,鈥� she confided.
鈥淚t鈥檚 based on the Hitchcock film which is not really a comedy. Everybody knows the classic. We add the absurdity level to the whole thing.鈥�
Unlike Brynn鈥檚 three costume changes into all-female roles, Driscoll says she portrays 鈥渦pwards of 10鈥� characters and all but two are male.
鈥淚 tend to do shows where I play multiple characters,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I love to do.鈥�
Changing characters so frequently requires a special talent. Due to Driscoll鈥檚 stature, it also required fitting her into a boy鈥檚 size suit.
鈥淭his has been my first job in about three years,鈥� Driscoll indicated. 鈥淚 wake up every morning and I鈥檓 so grateful.
鈥淭o do comedy, it鈥檚 perfect timing. I hope people will find it light and fun, as I am finding it.鈥�
Driscoll went to Ontario at the age of seven and still lives in Toronto now. Her mom recently moved back to this area and Driscoll had a chance to visit Chemainus.
鈥淚 saw the theatre and I said I want to work here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beautiful here. I love the murals. For me, it鈥檚 super cool to have that come true.鈥�
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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