Perry Players performing spy play 'The 39 Steps'

Four actors play 157 parts in the play "The 39 Steps."

The play, which was adapted from a novel by John Buchan and a movie by Alfred Hitchcock, will be performed by the Perry Players.

Most of those parts are played by the two clowns, Todd Wilson and Bill Johansen.

From a mind reader to a police officer and a paper boy to a Scottish farmer, the two actors keep the audience in stitches. The actors play all different types of characters and genders.

That isn't to take away from the laughs brought about by Jason Niederkorn, who plays Richard Hannay, and Christina Pykles, who plays Annabella, Pamela and Margaret.

Director Michael Qualls first saw this play off Broadway five years ago while visiting his daughter in New York.

"It was hilarious," he said.

Qualls decided to bring the mixture of a suspense crime drama with a dab of Monty Python to Perry.

A professor at Fort Valley State University, Qualls teaches criminal justice and law enforcement -- a perfect pairing for this spy play.

There is very little in the way of a set, which mostly consists of an armchair. Many of the funniest scenes in the first act take place in this chair.

"The audience really has to suspend belief to get into the play," Qualls said.

Costume designer Annie Bacon has had to work on a multitude of costumes for just the parts of the two men who play the clowns.

The play opens with Hannay sitting in his chair.

"I'm tired of life, to be honest," he tells the audience.

Those are the famous last words of a man who is about to be shoved into a secret world of spies, double-crosses and chases that lead him across Great Britain. He decides to go to a show and his life is turned upside down.

"The 39 Steps" opens Friday.

"It is definitely a good play. I've enjoyed the heck out of it," Qualls said.

"The 39 Steps"

Where: Perry Players, 909 Main St.

When: Feb. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 14 and 21 at 2:30 p.m.

Prices: adults $15; military, seniors and children $12; groups of 10 or more $10 each

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.perryplayers.org or call 478-987-5354.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Perry Players performing spy play 'The 39 Steps' ."