‘THE 39 STEPS’ is a comic theatrical adaptation from the World War I espionage novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock.

MANILA, Philippines -- IX a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have the intriguing, thrilling, riotous, "unmissable" comedy smash - "The 39 Steps."

"The 39 Steps" is the second offering of Repertory Philippines for the 2011 season that promises to be a blissfully funny show and a wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller at breakneck speed, and played for laughs all the way.

A comic theatrical adaptation written by Patrick Barlow adapted from the 1915 World War I espionage novel by Scottish author John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock, "The 39 Steps" has a cast of four fearless actors playing over 140 characters in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun that often requires fast quick changes and occasionally for them to play multiple characters at once.

The 2008 Roundabout Broadway production of "The 39 Steps" won the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and Outstanding Lighting Design. It won two Tony Awards for Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design and was also nominated for four other categories - Best Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play and Best Costume

Design of a Play. The London production won a Sir Olivier Award in 2007 for Best Comedy Play.

"The 39 Steps" follows the incredible adventures of a handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

Directed by Ana Abad Santos, "The 39 Steps" features in the cast Michael Williams, Liza Infante, Rem Zamora and Juliene Mendoza.

Co-presented by Enderun and the City of Makati, "The 39 Steps'' runs until March 20 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City. For tickets, email info@repertory.ph or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.