Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...All that said, fans of old-school British farce will likely have a few good laughs in the company of highly skilled physical actors working clever material. The individual scenes in this show are very deftly performed on Angie Weber Miller’s set, it’s the big picture that still needs the work."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Inspired by John Buchan's 1915 man-on-the-run thriller "The Thirty-Nine Steps" and Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film, Barlow's 2005 adaptation -- based on a concept Simon Corbie and Nobby Dimon introduced in 1995 -- is a spy tale wrapped in a screwball comedy that re-imagines for the stage the distinctive cinematic tropes Hitchcock pioneered on screen."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...So it's not a complete success. But the acting helps carry some of the creakier sections, and Angela Weber Miller's handsome detailed set of wooden doors and compartments feels like an upscale jack-in-the-box from which the various scenarios (train cars, rustic Scottish inns, a London music hall) emerge, aided by Anthony Churchill's projections, Ray Nardelli's soundscape, Lee Fiskness's elegantly moody lights, and the one-two punch of impossible quick-change delights offered by costumer Rachel Boylan and hair and wig designer Brittany Crinson. Barlow's script also offers a few choice Hitchcock in-jokes along the way to reward those who pay close attention to the storyline."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Recommended
"...this production grew on me, and little by little, the outstanding cast of actors featuring Gavin Lee, Catlin Gallogly, Zuhdi Boueri, and Tom Detrinis, who were both hilarious mastering multiple roles, had me during the final act. I sometimes believe the issue with theater is counting on seasonal, dare I say, more elderly audiences to always enjoy classic productions, forgetting that the new generational audience may miss it. Whether it be suspenseful or comedy, a theatrical production should reach me and draw me into it—so it was refreshing to feel uneducated about this classic that won me over with its exceptionally talented cast."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...With a nod to the modern-day spy thriller, and lots of over-the-top comedy, "The 39 Steps" is played strictly for laughs. Hitchcock is most definitely heightened into hilarity. Broadway and London theatre star Gavin Lee is an inspired choice for the leading role. In addition to the wonderful performances, there's plenty of references to other Hitchcock films. Some of the recorded incidental music, for instance, comes from the soundtracks of his other movies, which is a lot of fun to identify. There are many puns and theatrical allusions to the Master's other movies, such as "North By Northwest," "Strangers on a Train," "Rear Window," "Vertigo" and others. Fans of the Hitchcock catalog of hits will enjoy recognizing these as the play races to its climax. This hilarious theatrical parody of the movie that launched the spy/adventure/thriller/chase genre of film is a great way to spend a Summer afternoon or evening."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...But it is the actors who make it all work, and it was rather disconcerting to watch them doing so much so well with so little audience reaction. Granted, the second act elicited more laughter, though even then it was restrained. I found myself wondering why-I mean, I was not guffawing at the top of my lungs either even though I was immersed in the lunacy I was watching, enjoying all of the elements that comprised it, including the occasional comic reference to other Hitchcock works-and I think it ultimately comes back, in all likelihood, to that Sunday matinee thing. I heard many audience members praise the show in the lobby afterward: they liked the show even if they did so more or less silently...as did I."
Life and Times - Highly Recommended
"...The 39 Steps now playing at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, is a delicious entertainment masterpiece that director Johanna McKenzie Miller has lovingly filled with physical comedy from a small cast of amazing performers. Drury Lane's The 39 Steps is a comedy that just has to be experienced - it is that good."
Splash Magazine - Recommended
"...Director Johanna McKenzie Miller has done a phenomenal job of getting all the moving parts of this wrangled and the actors working together as a well-oiled machine. Its really a seamless bit of work and she should be commended."
