WHAT are The 39 Steps? Or the more relevant question is what is The 39 Steps?

John Buchan's classic novel of mysterious spies and misinformation, The Thirty-Nine Steps, has been a hugely popular read since it was published in 1915.

And it has been rehashed and repeated in many forms with three films including Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 masterpiece and Don Sharp's 1978 film starring Robert Powell.

Now it is gracing Blackpool's Grand Theatre as an hilarious romp played purely as farce with only four stars taking on all the roles. Self-confessed toff and star of Upstairs Downstairs, Simon Williams, plays our pipe smoking hero, Richard Hannay.

Z-Cars' George Sewell takes on five different roles from detectives to professors. Catherine Rabett, once a Hot Gossip dancer and now a film and television star, played "the ladies" with an admirable array of accents from Scottish to German.

And Kern Falconer took on the greatest number of roles, taking part in most of the slapstick pratfalls which were the mainstay of the comedy in this fast-paced play.

The labyrinth-like plot came second to the funny business throughout and the performances had the audience, who clearly knew the story well, literally rocking in their seats with laughter.

And as for the answer to the question posed at the top of this review -- well, you will have to wait and see.

The 39 Steps is on at the Grand Theatre until November 18 and tickets are available by calling the box office on (01253) 290190