Upclose with Patrick Barlow
Playwright and occasional actor Patrick Barlow is the brains behind “The 39 Steps,” a comedy-thriller adapted from Hitchcock’s classic film of the same name.
HK: Are you a fan of Hitchcock?
Patrick Barlow: Yes! Crazy, indeed, particularly for his brilliant storytelling. Few modern writer/directors tell stories as well as Hitchcock. They are too keen to bewilder the audience. “39 Steps” took six months of constant daily work just to get the story right. You should get the story right before a word of dialogue is written.
HK: What was the hardest part about adapting the play from a novel (by John Buchan) as well as Hitchcock’s film? Which version are you more honest to?
PB: I only used the opening moments of the novel, with Hannay the hero very depressed and wondering what to do. In fact, I re-wrote this to have him literally suicidal. He goes to the theater as one last gesture of life. He goes to the theater and meets the woman from the Hitchcock movie and here the movie takes over. I faithfully follow the movie. All the most memorable parts of the story come from the movie.
HK: How do you make the two rather contradictory elements of comedy and thriller work in “The 39 Steps”?
PB: Usually the comedy-thriller genre doesn’t work, apart from Hitchcock and early Polanski. You have to have a black comic heart to make it work. See the show! When it’s funny, it’s funny, when it’s thrilling, it’s thrilling. You need to play everything for real and not self-consciously. It works.
HK: What were the challenges in writing a script for 139 roles, which are played by only four actors?
PB: Well, you just said it: finding a way for four actors to play all those parts. You need first-rate actors, a brilliant director, an exquisite designer and lots of hats. It’s actually really good fun when you have to make something work that’s literally impossible.
HK: If you were to be an actor in “The 39 Steps,” which role would you prefer?
PB: Hannay, without a doubt. You kiss all the girls.
HK: You’ve made occasional appearances in films. What was it like being an actor?
PB: Yes, I’ve been in movies like “Bridget Jones,” “Shakespeare in Love,” “Notting Hill.” I find movie acting frustrating because it’s hard to get it right with so little time. I did a Woody Allen film and he didn’t even have time to say hello. I much prefer stage acting. Your time’s your own and no one can come on and shout, “Cut!”