Murder and Mayhem in the '39 Steps'

If the title “The 39 Steps” makes you think of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller from 1935, you may be in for a surprise when the Southampton Cultural Center hosts a very different adaptation of the story, which itself was loosely based on the 1915 novel “The Thirty-Nine Steps” by John Buchan.

Via Brooklyn will present Patrick Barlow’s play of the same title, which spoofs Hitchcock’s murder mystery with a cast of four playing more than 50 characters, along with fast changes, shadow puppets, fog machines, projections, questionable accents, and moustaches.

Directed by Craig J. George, the production stars Rafe Terrizzi, Hannah Tova Wolff, Ian Harkins, and Cori Hundt, all of whose fingers will presumably remain intact. The play opens Saturday at 7 p.m., and, for that night only, will be followed by the attempt of the cast and crew to solve a murder that took place during the presentation.

The play will run through July 30, with performances at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and July 24, and a 2:30 matinee on July 30. Tickets are $28, $20 for students, and are available at viabrooklyn.org.