The 39 Steps, Theatre Royal Brighton, until Jan 12

10:08am Friday 11th January 2008

Anyone looking for an instant tonic to banish the winter blues need look no further. The cure is to be found in this hilarious stage version of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film.

Using a bare stage, a few props and the odd item of furniture together with numerous costume changes, a cast of four enact the adventures of Richard Hannay as he gets drawn into a web of intrigue and murder.

His adventures start in a music hall - an appropriate setting as most of the comedy has echoes of the golden days of variety, with cross-talking patter acts and a milkman delivering his lines a la Max Miller.

The production may be simple in setting but its construction is wonderfully inventive, with clever visual jokes and many moments of theatrical magic. Hannay's flight across the Scottish Highlands is achieved using shadow puppetry complete with Hitchcock making his trademark appearance.

David Michaels makes a fine Hannay - all jutting chin and stiff upper lip - and is well matched by Clare Swinburne as Pamela, an English Rose.

It falls to Colin Mace and Alan Perrin to supply the multitude of other characters and they do so magnificently.

The show is comedy acting at its best.

• To book call 08700 606650

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