Hitchcock’s classic thriller live on stage

A tale of mistaken identity, unidentified agents, government secrets, action-packed chase scenes and of course, the femme fatale – North by Northwest is listed among the greatest films of all time.

It is now coming to the Sydney stage.

The production, which is directed by Simon Phillips and stars David Campbell as the famed fugitive Roger Thornhill, has been boldly reimagined for the stage, with plenty of tricks employed to create the famous scenes from the movie, which starred Cary Grant in the lead role. But how, for example, does the crop-duster zoom towards Roger? And how do they climb Mount Rushmore?

With a giant screen behind the stage and very clever stage manipulation.

According to Nicholas Bell, who plays the newsreader among approximately 18 roles, the production doesn’t “cheat” with film, rather, every image that’s generated on the screen behind the stage is produced in real time.

“We don’t ever give you the impression that something is happening, and then cheat it onto the big screen,” he told The AJN in between rehearsals.

“Everything you see is happening in real time. We build it in front of the audience, and everyone on stage is engaged in that.”

Sharon Millerchip, who plays Maggie (and others – each cast member has multiple roles in the production), explained the trickery: “All the famous moments from the movie, you will recognise within the show, however, we don’t use any actual footage of the film. We recreate all the scenes with a giant screen and the use of clever puppetry, imagery and illusions. It really works a dynamic punch; it’s evocative, but it’s also done with great wit and humour.”

Millerchip says while it’s done via illusion, nothing is secretive, and the audience is very much in on the trick.

“You see the scenery rushing by, but you see that being created in real time on either side of the stage,” she said.

“You see the magic being created and then you see it being projected on the screen. Very early on, the audience understands the conceit. They understand how it is all going to work. And once everybody’s on board, you know, we’re off and away.”

It’s frantic and funny, nostalgic but at the same time it’s Hitchcock reinvented for new, young audiences.

“The fun of it is the chase,” Bell said. “It’s the journey and the romance. Will he get caught, or won’t he? We see this guy, this fish out of water, suddenly become involved in espionage. Will he survive?”

It’s the original comedic thriller and the younger generation is now being introduced to the great Alfred Hitchcock.

“With the birth of streaming, suddenly, you can stream any film from history. And audiences are re-watching these old classic films,” Bell explained.

“It might be nostalgic for people who are over a certain age, but a younger audience is now finding them too. Hitchcock never went out of fashion, but there are young people who don’t have a love of his films. Now, they’re discovering them.”

And for Millerchip, the production is coming at the right time.

“Real life is so sobering at the moment,” she said. “I think people are looking for a moment of escapism. There’s a lot to tie you up in knots in the world, and in the arts, we challenge and inspire, but we also entertain.

“The idea that we’re out there enriching people and giving people a fun night is actually incredibly rewarding. It makes you feel like what we’re doing is worthwhile.”

Both Millerchip and Bell say that at the beginning of the pandemic, the live entertainment and arts world was seen as a bit of a luxury. But as Bell explained, just like during the Great Depression when all people wanted to do was see musicals, enjoy the works of Busby Berkeley, and experience the glitz and glamour of live shows, so too now, a lot of people just want sunshine again. And often, it comes in the form of live productions.

What better way to do that than a night out with family or friends, enjoying a visually stunning, gripping, suspenseful, yet funny adventure?

As many have said, years before the James Bond films, there was North by Northwest and the story of Roger Thornhill’s life being turned upside down, simply because of a mistaken identity.

North by Northwest is at the Lyric Theatre from March 9 – April 3. Buy tickets.