By Pauline Currie
The Dumbarton People’s Theatre is back with a bang at the newly refurbished Denny Civic Theatre.
The venue saw a packed auditorium rock with laughter at what many have considered as the DPT’s best production to date.
After a long absence due to a combination of Covid and refurbishment, on March 1 The 39 Steps exploded onto the stage and audiences were treated to a magnificent production.
Producer/director Helen Watt managed to stage this brilliant comedy despite its huge challenges, not least of which was the change of lighting crew.
Split second timing plays a vital part in this spoof of Hitchcock’s film and, with seeming ease, that is what lucky theatre goers enjoyed.
Scott J Watt, fairly new to providing sounds, sourced and delivered car crashes, train screeches, plane crashes, jitterbug music, romantic music, and much more with the slickness of a professional, assisted by Julian Fosh.
The backstage crew manoeuvred desks, stiles, lamps, windows, doors and lampposts, not to mention the Forth Bridge, on and off stage under cover of darkness.
And so an extremely challenging play was produced and executed with exceptional professionalism.
The cast, of course, is what the audience sees, and this cast was brilliant.
Chris Watt was an inspired choice to play Richard Hannay. His performance swung from funny to heart warming, from desperate to hapless, effortlessly. His was a flawless and very polished performance, easily worthy of London’s West End.
Cara Mackenzie, his love interest, played femme fatale Annabella Schmidt, the Scots dreamer and the upper class Pamela with superb confidence and flair.
Elise McLean, Gareth Williams, Kenny McLean and Ross Kelbie played multiple roles with seeming ease.
With minimal props and a slick backstage crew, this small and hugely talented cast held its audiences in the palms of their collective hands. And for four consecutive nights, no less. No easy task.
The group’s next play is Ladies Day, which is in the Denny Civic Theatre from May 3 until May 6. Tickets can be bought from McDermid’s, Dumbarton and The Scandinavian Shop, Helensburgh or online at Dumbartonpeoplestheatre@outlook.com.
