Take a Hitchcock masterpiece, mix with some Monty Python, sprinkle with theatrical razzle dazzle, bake on high energy and you have the hilarious “The 39 Steps,” now playing at the Waterfront Playhouse through Jan. 12. The Daily News called the show “Ingenious! A dizzy delight!” The New York Times raved, “Absurdly enjoyable … theater at its finest!”

“The 39 Steps” is Broadway’s longest-running comedy, and the show has been playing in London’s West End since 2007. It won two Tony and three Drama Desk Awards, as well as the Olivier Award for “Best Comedy.” Now, the Waterfront Playhouse brings this theatrical powerhouse to the Keys community. The production is sponsored by Conch Color and the 2012/13 season sponsors are Digital Island Media, Wodu Media and Royal Furniture.

The play is a suspenseful, romantic comedy, but at its heart “The 39 Steps” is about the magic of theater as only four actors recreate the 1935 Hitchcock movie of the same name. Dozens of eccentric characters, lightening quick costume changes, outrageous accents, physical gags, as well as ingenious lighting and sound effects are all part of this rollicking theater piece.

Richard Hannay (played by Brandon Beach) is a man bored with his life and longing for adventure. He meets a mysterious and glamorous German spy (Erin McKenna) at a theater. McKenna also plays the other female love interests — a shy Scottish farm wife, Pamela, and the ubiquitous Hitchcock blonde. When the spy is murdered in his apartment, Hannay begins to run for his life. And oh yes, he must try to save the British Empire from an evil ring of spies.

David Black and J. B. McLendon take on the Herculean task of playing more than a 100 characters who help tell the story: Scottish innkeepers, thugs, vaudevillians, women, policemen and even inanimate objects.

The original source material was John Buchan’s 1915 novel “The 39 Steps,” which Hitchcock turned into his legendary film. Patrick Barlow, adapted the film for the stage in 2006, basically taking the entirety of the film’s dialogue and using it as a jumping off place for comic mayhem. There are cheeky allusions, winks and puns on the titles of other Hitchcock films, including “Rear Window,” “Psycho,” “Strangers on a Train” and “North by Northwest.”

Heading up “The 39 Steps” is the Waterfront artistic director, Danny Weathers, who says, “Audiences are going to have a very fun night out with ‘The 39 Steps.’ The actors are phenomenal, and the brilliant design work of Michael Boyer’s set, Leigh Hooten’s period costumes, Kim Hanson’s lighting, Carmen Rodriguez’s props, Trish Manley’s stage management and the sound design by Dan Simpson and myself, all add to the wildly inventive theater magic.”

“The 39 Steps” is perfect for the whole family. Tickets, memberships, subscriptions, gift certificates and other info are available by calling the box office at 305-294-5015 or at www.WaterfrontPlayhouse. org. Student, military and senior rates are also available, as well as the Friday Night Date Night ticket special. Be aware that the final week is likely to sell out so do no delay.