THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE 39 STEPS
Today, in our typical spirit of service to our readers and (near) future audience members, we present our incredibly helpful guide to the geography of the play.
Actually, this won’t make a lot of sense to most of you, but it does provide some idea of the incredible scope of our production – both in terms of topography and action. Print it up, cut it out, and bring to the play so you can follow along.
So if any of you were wondering why there was no post yesterday, there are two reasons…
• It was International Summer Solstice Blogosphere Respite Day
• It was the day before a very unlucky date.
Also, the admin was too busy to post…
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The clock is ticking down. Less than two weeks to opening night, which would be nice if we didn’t still have four weeks of work to do.
But even looming deadlines can’t keep these thespians – that means “actors”, just so there’s no misunderstanding – from their usual highjinks.
Here, for instance, Michael tries to teach Pippa a few steps of traditional English clog dancing. At first, things go well…
But then he throws his back out:
At that point, Dan gives it a shot in his own inimitable style:
And finally, even Harold has a go at it, with disappointing results:
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Things take a darker turn when Michael gives Dan an elbow in the ribs, late in the third period:
Christopher looks up the infraction in the Big Book of Theatres Bads, and declares a 5-minute misconduct:
At this juncture, Michael grabs a chair, and things go from bad to worse:
All in a days work at The 39 Steps.
Time to meet yet another cast member, via the Proust Questionnaire…
PIPPA
What is your current state of mind?
Wild, like a wind blown flotilla of butterflies over a stormy atlantic.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Peace on earth, peace on earth, peace on earth, peace on earth…oh and a really great dinner party.
What is your greatest fear?
My play dream. Where I’m backstage and there’s a few minutes before the play goes on but i don’t know what the play is or what it’s about and I’m in it. I know I can make it through somehow if I can find a script but of course there’s not a script in sight.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Theseus cos he’s related to poseidon and that would just be cool, in terms of swimming and the ocean and he could feel earthquakes coming. Plus Joan d’Arc – how did she ever do what she did?
Which living person do you most admire?
I admire so many I’d have to make a long list and they would be the people I know! In terms of people I don’t know…Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan for their poetry and Elizabeth May for her chutzpah and perseverance.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Oooohhhhh…..hhhmmmmmmmm……wweeeeelllll…..let us seee, let us see, let us seeeeeeeeeee……Gosh can’t come up with a thing and I really tried to. Oh wait, wait, I’ve got It…Nooo sorry, my mistake.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Punctuality.
What is it that you most dislike?
Dog dirt; an english expression for doggy doo doo.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Socially flit flitting.
What do you value most in friends?
Reasonable tardiness, good cooking to share, conversations about the mysteries of the universe.
What is your favourite journey?
Back to my house or on the way to Clear Lake.
What is your most treasured possession?
My reading glasses, no competition there.
What do you consider the most over-rated virture?
The word morality drives me bonkers.
On what occasion do you lie?
Like never. Okay!
Which living person do you most despise?
Whoever’s in charge of the global energy plan.
What or who is greatest love of your life?
Dudley More and Dan Boileau photo finish.
When and where were you happiest?
Right now right here is as good as it gets so far.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d stay forties for the rest of my life.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Keeping my horse fat at 31 years old with bad teeth.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
My parent’s would be these cool ghosts who hang around [only cos they want to] and they’d give advice and hang out at parties with us.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Rainy, cold summers and oil spills. (Are they related?
What is your favourite occupation?
Singing with musicians who are okay with weird singing. The spelling of weird is weird huh?
What is your most marked characteristic?
I limp and I have wrinkles where dimples used to be.
Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
Reepicheep from the Dawn Treader. A swash buckling rodent is pretty cool.
How would you like to die?
Quietly surrounded by people who don’t mind too much being there, or drowning in a really great body of water.
What is your motto?
Get up in the morning, no matter what!
And now…the much anticipated return of our weekly caption challenge.
First, the winning captions for the frames we posted last Friday. Thanks for your entries!
"Quit telling me to look to the left ! There's nothing there!"
"I'll count to 39... then I'm gonna scare the crap out of her..."
"I've shown you my bra... now show me yours."
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And now, this week’s Caption Challenge images. Enter your caption ideas by clicking on “Leave a Comment” above.
You have until next Thursday. Get busy and get funny!
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Blogging resumes Monday.
A tense moment at rehearsal…
Dan gets emotionally carried away during a gun scene, while Christopher (just visible at left) tries to talk him down. Meanwhile, Michael tries to remember if he’s wearing his Kevlar vest, while Pippa the Snack Lady looks on anxiously over a package of taco chips with sea salt.
And speaking of props…we amateur actors LOVE them. Put a gun or a knife or a telephone in our hands, and we get crazy.
Below, to whet your appetite for the well-accesorized drama of The 39 Steps, is a selection of our terribly exciting props…
Your heart’s pounding already, isn’t it! Isn’t it…? Hello…?
DAN
And now, in the second of our Proust Questionnaires, meet another of our cast members…
What is your current state of mind?
Calm like green sky preceding a hurricane.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A great partner in life.
What is your greatest fear?
Climate change inaction.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
J.S. Bach.
Which living person do you most admire?
My dad.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Addiction.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
One-uppers.
What is it that you most dislike?
Raw onions with yoghurt.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Southern vacations.
What do you value most in friends?
Trust.
What is your favourite journey?
A market in Florence, Italy.
What is your most treasured possession?
May partner, my health, my garden, my music.
What do you consider the most over-rated virture?
Wealth.
On what occasion do you lie?
Every time I have a smoke.
Which living person do you most despise?
All televangelists.
What or who is greatest love of your life?
Pip, naturally.
When and where were you happiest?
Aged 24, living on Crescent Street, Montreal.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My eyes.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Producing summer theatre.
If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
Distance.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The Crusades.
What is your favourite occupation?
Movie star.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Exceptional hearing.
Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
The Joker.
How would you like to die?
In my sleep.
What is your motto?
Go, go, go!
Yikes, that’s almost half-way!
And yet…things are moving ahead, especially in the creation of our extremely elaborate set.*
*Irony alert.
In the meantime, to help you quell those welling feelings of impatience as you anticipate opening night, we’re pleased to present the one-and-only Lord Tweedsmuir Paper Doll Set!
Now you can enjoy hours of fun dressing up the author of The 39 Steps as all sorts of people: Elvis Presley, Legolas the Elf, a Jedi Warrior, Jon Bon Jovi or even Sailor Moon!
Just print and cut out!
