Ezra Colón, Peter Diseth, Catharine Pilafas, and Martin Andrews

By the time The 39 Steps leaves Barlow's hands, it's a comedy with four actors playing dozens of characters. Hitchcock is referenced throughout the play, but the references are not key to the fun. The story is essentially about Richard Hannay (a very convincing Peter Diseth), a bored and hapless gentleman who gets wrapped up in a spy murder when he tries to help a girl in a tight spot.

One desperate turn leads to another, across the British countryside, as Scotland Yard mistakes our unlucky hero for the murderer. The story doesn't matter a whole lot. It's a vehicle to keep the jokes and crazy situations rolling. The pace goes frantic about seven minutes in, and stays at a hysterical level right up to the romantically satisfying end. Did I forget to mention it's a romance? The hate-your-first, love-you-later kind.

This is a wonderful choice for The Duke City Repertory Theatre (DCRT). The group has made quite a trade of multiple roles, quick action, and near acrobatic, minutely timed, physical sequences. Not quite dance choreography, but even more physically precise. They have applied this skill to a variety of plays, from A Midsummer's Night's Dream to All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth to The Drowning Girls—quite a mix of genres, all made stronger by the company's dexterity at multiple roles and precise choreography. For The 39 Steps, the group shows that it can extend this talent to newcomers. Only one rep member is in the cast (the always terrific Ezra Colón), and the director (the deeply resume'd Vincent Carlson-Brown) is new to DCRT. Yet the troupe's stamp is all over this production.

One of my favorite aspects of the play is the willingness to make fun of the props. At one point, Diseth is holding a tray full of sandwiches. He looks at it quizzically and turns it over, only to show the audience that the fake sandwiches are attached to the tray. He shrugs and turns it back right side up. These goofy wink-winks to the audience are peppered throughout the production.

All four actors—Martin Andrews and Catharine Pilafas in addition to Diseth and Colón—do a great job playing a multitude of characters. The set by scenic designer/lighting designer Chesapeake Dalrymple is intricate and endlessly useful. The lighting is both precise and funny. Likewise the sound by Miles Polaski. Colón does double duty with acting and production management. The production team is rounded out by stage manager Alicia Webb and costume designer Gene Salgado. Nice work from all.

The 39 Steps, written by John Buchan, adapted by Patrick Barlow, and produced by the Duke City Repertory Theatre, is playing at the Cell Theatre at 700 1st. St. NW, Thursdays through Sundays through May 24, 2015. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 pm. Sunday performances begin at 2:00 pm. Adults are $22; seniors, military, and students are $14; children up to 17 are $7. On Thursdays, adults are $12, and kids up to 17 are $7. For reservations, go to dukecityrep.com or call 797-7082.

Photo by Rick Galli

--Rob Spiegel