Years before the James Bond films there was Alfred Hitchcock’s supreme comedy of suspense North by Northwest – a lightning-paced thriller that mixed glamour with espionage for a truly irresistible cocktail.
Roger O. Thornhill is a suave and successful advertising executive, abducted by thugs who insist he is a man called George Kaplan. There’s obviously been a mix up. When they don’t believe him, that’s infuriating. When they try to kill him, that’s frightening. And when they pin a murder on him, that’s time to run!
From New York to North Dakota, Thornhill is chased by spies, Feds, crop-dusting planes and the inevitable cool blonde. Every twist, every thrill, every hairbreadth escape from the original film is retained for this stunning new stage adaptation from director Simon Phillips and writer Carolyn Burns, starring Matt Day (Muriel’s Wedding, Spooks, Rake) in the title role made famous by Cary Grant.
North by Northwest plays at Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse from 1 June.
Published on 28 May 2015