Hitchcock-based play set for Feb. 22-24

“The 39 Steps” is coming to Waupaca High School’s Performing Arts Center.

The school’s Drama Department will perform the play at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. Seating is limited and tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Tickets are available for purchase at the school’s main office or at the door.

“‘The 39 Steps’ is a fast-paced whodunit,” said Monica Reeves, who is directing the play with Jane Mary Dix. “With 33 scenes, it’s a play sure to entertain.”

The play started out in 1915 as a suspense novel, but it is more known as the 1936 Alfred Hitchcock movie. Patrick Barlow’s stage adaptation, a Broadway success, mostly draws on Hitchcock’s film. The elements in the play draw on Hitchcock’s style: the wrong man running away from the police, trains, a lovely lady and smooth villains.

“The 39 Steps” centers on Richard Hannay, played by Connor Andersen, a Londoner leading an ordinary life, who is thrust into a perilous situation. Accused of killing a counter espionage agent, Hannay must save himself while trying to stop a spy ring from stealing secret information.

The cast also includes Caleb Schuelke, Derick Emerson, Alli Hansen, Claire Jacquet, Andrew Schmidt, Abby Perket, Kirsten Gregory, Shae Wright, Jakob Koran, Kayla Cain, Jack Snider, Zach Schafer, Connor Loken, Colin Studzinski, Seth Rowland and Mady Waid. Laura Petersen, Noah Loehrke, Dominick Silva, Jillian Sieckert and Jazmyne Gibbs will move the set pieces during the performance.

Joni Radley will play piano music throughout the show. Lillian Sommer will operate the sound effects and WHS stage manager Eric Conner will cue the lights.

“Transitioning the many scenes of the play is challenging,” Reeves said. “However, interesting piano music and sound effects assist in these transitions and that brings plenty of interest and excitement to the show.”