Mystery, thrills, and laughs aplenty

Fort Rouge

East St. Paul

Fans of mystery and the theatre are in for a real treat this winter.

On Feb. 26, Hood & Dagger Productions brings The 39 Steps to the stage at the Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Ave.). Based on the novel by John Buchan and the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, The 39 Steps, as adapted by Patrick Barlow, it tells the story of Richard Hannay, a Canadian who finds himself embroiled in an international mystery.

“This show is so beautifully paced in its comedy and melodrama and it has been a pleasure to build it with this cast and crew,” said Brandon Vink, who plays Hannay.

“I’m very excited to show our audience this ridiculous thrill ride,” the Fort Rouge resident said. “It is a Hitchcock thriller that’s been hijacked by Fawlty Towers, Noises Off and a dash of The Play Goes Wrong.”

“The energy that this cast has together has been electric since day one, so I can’t wait for how it’s going to feel once we get it in front of an audience,” added Madden Delaat, a cast member who is tasked with over 30 roles in the production. “It’s a hilarious show, with a fast-paced plot that pulls you along like a train about to go off the rails, and every single person working on it is talented, as all get out.”

Delaat isn’t the only actor wearing multiple hats in the production, which is directed by Scott Cranwill. Each of the five cast members — apart from Vink — will play approximately 30 different characters over the course of the play, as Hannay encounters dozens of people in his travels across the U.K., pursued by the titular secret organization, the 39 Steps.

“I’m so excited for people other than myself to finally experience how ridiculously funny my cast mates are,” Delaat, a Riverview resident, said.

“When you watch this show, please remember that no matter how hard it looks like us actors are working, The 39 Steps requires equal/more work from our crew,” Vink noted. “It is madness behind that curtain, and they continue to impress me in harnessing the chaos.”

“I am excited or people to see the cool set pieces for this show, including a family of sheep I had fun helping to build,” said Jacquie Sarna, a member of the stage crew who also helped build and paint the sets.

To help bring the rollicking script to life, Hood & Dagger benefited from a Manitoba Arts Council grant to pay for the services of a professional lighting designer, Lovissa Wiens. The show also includes a simulated on stage plane crash.

“The energy that this cast has together has been electric since day one, so I can’t wait for how it’s going to feel once we get it in front of an audience,” Delaat said.

High Tea Bakery and Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore will have booths at the performances, and Hood & Dagger has partnered with Zaytoon Restaurant to offer a VIP experience, which includes an authentic three-course Middle Eastern meal and VIP seating. As with prior productions, proceeds will also be donated to a local charity.

“I am very excited that Agape Table is the partner charity for this show,” Sarna said.

“Theatre is one of the greatest things that you can do with your life,” Vink said about his experience with Hood & Dagger thus far. “It is a way to experience and spread joy, to affect the hearts of our communities and to learn new things about ourselves and others.”

Hood & Dagger Productions presents The 39 Steps from Feb. 26 through March 1 at the Gas Station Arts Centre. Tickets start at $25. For more information, visit

HoodandDagger.ca