'The 39 Steps', a british spy thriller opens in Fairbanks

A play, based on a movie, based on a novel about a spy, opens on Friday, October 25th.

'The 39 Steps' is a play based on the 1935 British thriller film of the same name, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

The play is very loosely based on the 1915 adventure novel 'The Thirty-Nine Steps' by John Buchan.

The original concept and production of a four-actor version of the story was by Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon. Patrick Barlow rewrote this adaptation in 2005.

The Hap Ryder Theater will open the spy comedy this weekend.

Director Bill Wright says although the play takes place in the 20th century, it still captures classic comedic theater elements.

"Some of the themes that are in the play as it's been adapted for the stage and for comedy it's like the classic theatre, commedia dell'arte, where it's just pastiche. You have these different actors running around playing different characters and changing on the fly, almost as if its street theatre, you reach out for the quickest prop you can grab and turn into that character, then spin it around and do it again. So audiences that come to see the show, will get to see truly this classic comedy, put in the way of classic theatre style," said Wright.

More information on ticket prices and show times can be found at