Although there were a few bumps on the performance road, Run Rabbit Run Theatre’s production of The 39 Steps showed some creative effects that proved to be quite humorous. The play, which takes a funny look at the stories and movies of Alfred Hitchcock, opens with Richard Hannay (Phil Erikson) setting the stage for the show about to take place. His heavy British accent took some getting used to, but after a while it just became a part of his character. The action takes place before World War II, and involves some convoluted situations involving spies, murder, national security and romance. Four actors play over 100 roles, not counting the stage hands who played very minor roles in the closing scene.

Penny Hauffe played three of the female characters. She was able to make two out of the three characters distinctive by going from blond to brunette and changing her mannerisms from sultry to more annoyed, especially due to the fact that in the second act she spent a great bit of time handcuffed to Hannay. The two “clowns” were played by Kevin Daly and Tom Johnson. They had some of the funniest bits, including an airplane chase sequence and a frustrating flock of sheep. The audience did not always know how to react so at times the bits by the clowns was somewhat sluggish and carried on a little too long. However, most of the physical comedy was fun to watch.

The lighting was probably the biggest disappointment of the evening. One scene involved the owner of an inn and his “wife” having a conversation with a third-party. With the way that Director Meredith Bean McMath blocked the scene, they were both in a shadow and thus were both hard to see and hear as well, making the action happening onstage very difficult to follow. Several other scenes were oddly lit, or maybe just underlit. The costumes were colorful and period appropriate. The stage crew was extremely efficient with the many set changes and tweaks, with a few very funny bits, such as the town names visible from the train.

Although there were a few lighting and pacing problems, The 39 Steps was enjoyed by a good-sized audience with a cast that was comfortable and enjoyed creating an evening of laughter and merriment.

Photo Gallery

Hannay and Margaret (Phil Erickson and Penny Hauffe)	‘Anything suspicious, let us know, sir.’ ‘I will, Constable!’ (Tom Johnson at left with Kevin Daly).
‘Pulling the communication cord!’ Pamela (Penny Hauffe) and the Constable (Kevin Daly)	The Housekeeper (Kevin Daly) finds something nasty in the wingchair.

Photos by Dave Levinson

Cast

• Richard Hannay: Phil Erikson
• Annabella, Pamela, Margaret: Penny Hauffe
• Clown 1: Kevin Daly
• Clown 2: Tom Johnson

Crew

• Director/Producer: Meredith Bean McMath
• Technical Director/Lighting and Sound Designer: Garrett Milich
• Stage Manager: Annie Stokes
• Properties Master: Kaitlyn DeLitta
• Set Manager: Alex Tappan
• Crew: Kaitlyn DeLitta, Wes Gums, Alex Tappan
• House Manager: Cindy Hayden

Disclaimer: Run Rabbit Run Theatre provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Last Saturday evening I traveled through the beautiful countryside of Loudoun County to experience Run Rabbit Run Theatre’s All for the Union, a true tale of three young women living in Confederate Virginia who managed to publish a newspaper for Union soldiers. They deal with foragers, skirmishes and burning raids, cared for wounded soldiers and helped with the Underground Railroad and somehow managed to smuggle drafts of their newspaper across the river to the Baltimore Sun for printing.

The show was performed in the Old Stone School Theatre in Hillsboro. This venerable facility was the perfect setting for the story set during the Civil War. The set was made up primarily of the Dutton kitchen on the stage, while all other scenes were played in front of the closed curtain. Costumes were wonderful, the lighting accented each scene well, although a few scenes were a touch too dim.

The actors performed well. The young ladies, Linda (Millie Juraschek Shipe), Lizzie (Carolyn Christensen) and Sarah (Suzanne Johnson) performed well together. Occasionally it was hard telling the characters apart because of the similarity of their costumes and mannerisms. There was a very well done scene that flashed between the Provost Marshal’s Office and the Dutton home. Christopher Miller as Private Dieter Sternbergerholtzenheimer had a nice scene explaining his name to a fellow soldier. The hope expressed by Mariah (Jenna Powell) and Zilpha (Nicole Denson) as they sang their spirituals was touching, and the dream of getting an education was poignant. Director and playwright Meredith Bean McMath has filled a lot of material into a two-hour play.

It was satisfying seeing another story from the Civil War. Little Women, Shenandoah, and Civil War Voices are most commonly performed. With activities for the Civil War’s Sesquicentennial beginning, All For the Union is a welcome addition to stories of that time in our nation’s history.

Cast

• Miss Huntington: Taryn Bromser-Kloeden
• Sarah Steer (1907): Nancy Purcell
• Linda Dutton: Millie Juraschek Shipe
• Lizzie Dutton: Carolyn Christensen
• Union Private Edward Jacobs: Chris Saunders
• Sarah Steer (1862): Suzanne Johnson
• Emma Dutton: Nancy Griffith-Cochrane
• Annie Dutton: Caroline Pennington
• Maggie Loden: KC Burke
• Billy Summer: Blake O’Brien
• Confederate John Mobberly: Colin Tisdale
• Confederate Private Martin Barlow: Christopher Miller
• Confederate Private Gabriel Moss: Garrett Milich (7/8-10)
• Confederate Private Gabriel Moss: Drew Hare (7/15-24)
• Confederate Lieutenant John Milbrowe: Matt Curtis
• Union Lieutenant Luther Slater: George Werner
• Sergeant Orvil Thomas: Lee Bean
• Union Sergeant Bartholomew Reynolds: Clint Good
• Union Private Dieter Sternbergerholtzenheimer: Christopher Miller
• Union Private Thomas McNulty: John Eddington
• John B. Dutton: Mark Zielke
• Union Lieutenant John William Hutchinson: Chris Saunders
• Mariah: Jenna Powell
• Zilpha: Nicole Denson
• Mrs. Hammond: Linda Burke

Music and Song

• Drum: Blake O’Brien
• Flute: Meredith Miller
• Spirituals: Nicole Denson and Jenna Powell
• Harmonica: Chris Saunders, Garrett Milich, and Drew Hare

Crew

• Stage Director: Meredith Bean McMath
• Assistant Director: Kaitlin McClung
• Stage Manager: Meredith Miller
• Fight Choreographer: Carolyn Christensen
• Technical Director: Garrett Milich
• Sound/Light Design Crew: Connor Albright, Graham Albright, Nick Miller, Mark Zielke
• Sound/Light Technician: Graham Albright
• Set Production Crew: Connor Albright, Graham Albright, Lee Bean, Linda Burke, KC Burke, Nicole Denson, Clint Good, Beth Hendershot, Suzy Johnson, Kaitlin McClung, Chuck McMath, Palmer McMath, Chris Miller, Meredith Miller, Nick Miller, Rodney Pless, Chris Saunders, George Werner, Mark Zielke
• Costume Coordinator: Meredith Bean McMath
• Independence Day Volunteers: KC Blake, Suzy Johnson, Chris Miller, Blake O’Brien, Chris Saunders, Millie Juraschek Shipe, Colin Tisdale, George Werner, Mark Zielke

Disclaimer: Run Rabbit Run Theatre provided a complimentary media ticket to ShowBizRadio for this review.