On November 13, 14. and 15, Shippensburg University’s student-run organization Act V performed Alfred Hitchcock’s stage adaptation of the 1935 film “The 39 Steps” at Memorial Auditorium with complete success.

From Tyler Michael Law’s opening lines to a hilarious finish with confetti, the audience found it to be both comical and well developed by the students. Law played an innocent British man, Richard Hannay, in his 30’s dealing with the boredom of everyday life. The play took place during the Nazi regime in Germany, 1935.

Now this play was far more unconventional than others previously performed at Shippensburg University. For example, actress Nastassia Foose played not one, not two, but three characters: Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret. Foose played as all of Hannay’s love interests, a German, a Scottish and a British lady. I cannot imagine the work put forth to accomplish all those accents.

Katie Hargrove and Tristan Sieben play the two clowns in the show, who change characters and costumes throughout the performances to mimic everyday people, from police officers to milkmen to world-class spies.

Student director Nicholas Ecker, a senior, had a lot to say as this was the final fall play he would direct at Shippensburg. “Directing ‘The 39 Steps’ this semester at Shippensburg University was definitely an experience I’ll always remember. With only having four cast members to work with, rehearsals seemed to go a lot smoother, allowing myself to have more one-on-one time with each actor.”

Ecker has worked with Act V in the past on several productions as director, musical director, and actor.

“The material itself was very funny, but also very fast-paced and challenging. My cast did a fantastic job with everything I was throwing at them, even from the first couple rehearsals. Granted, some of the British humor was beyond them and the numerous accents were a little much at times, all four of my cast members persevered and put on three amazing shows. I could not be prouder of what we created in only a semester.”

One thing is for sure: the Shippensburg student body and community appreciated it due to the shows' decent turnouts for each performance. Act V will be working diligently to bring the next work to life. The spring musical Spring Awakening will be coming May 2016.