A recent trip to the theatre saw me take my mum to the Criterion Theatre in London’s Piccadilly Circus to watch The 39 Steps. The play is based on the adventure novel by John Buchan. Seen as there are at least five film versions of the book there is a good chance that the story will be familiar to you as it was to my mum. Whereas I have never read the book, seen the TV mini-series or any of the films so was completely in the dark with what to expect. This meant that, unlike my mum, I wasn’t baffled when it turned out that the play was a spoof with only four actors playing over 100 characters with the book’s seriousness replaced by an abundance of over the top downright silliness.

As I said my mum was most perplexed why this story that she has seen numerous times on the big and small screen was interspersed with random slapstick and it took her a while to relax and allow herself to have a good chuckle. I on the other hand thought it was an amusing way to spend the evening and rather enjoyed myself. I was particularly impressed with the way the play moved from a London flat, to the flying Scotsman, to a chase across the Scottish Highlands with only a few props and a bit of imagination.

The theatre itself was ok in terms of wheelchair access. They have good information on their website http://www.crinforiterion-theatre.co.uk/access.html but do pay heed to the advice and don’t try and get in the theatre through the front door as there is a large step. This is most annoying if you do what I did and try to collect pre-booked tickets from the box office, especially as I had to ask a willing tourist to bunk me up the step, which is a bit embarrassing to have to do in Piccadilly Circus on a Saturday afternoon. Once in the theatre though it is relatively comfortable. The view of the stage is slightly obscured but that is to be expected as you are sat on the top tier on the back row and if you want a drink or a programme you will have to ask someone to get it for you as the merchandise stand and bar is down some steps, which is apt given the name of the play on show. On the plus side there is a good sized loo and the staff are really friendly and helpful.