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Capable cast brings ‘Dial M’ to TNT stage
By LORRAINE WARDLE
NILES
Most of us recognize “Dial M for Murder” as an Alfred Hitchcock movie starring Grace Kelly. But before it was a movie, it was a play, written by Frederick Knott. Hitchcock’s movie is nearly identical to the play, and Knott, also famous for “Wait Until Dark,” wrote the screenplay.
In 1955, the Trumbull New Theatre produced Knott’s suspenseful drama. Now 55 years later, “Dial M for Murder” is the latest production at TNT.
Tony Wendice thinks he has planned the perfect murder. After learning that his wealthy wife has cheated on him, the former tennis pro has decided to have her killed and inherit her money.
Don’t worry — I’m not giving anything away here; it’s all explained in the first two scenes. Of course, the plan goes awry, and Wendice scrambles to manipulate events to his advantage.
Though “Dial M for Murder” is sometimes described as a mystery, it is really more of a thriller or suspense. As the audience, we almost always know exactly what is going on onstage. We know what happened and why, and who is telling the truth. The suspense builds as we watch the characters attempt to figure it out.
In Act 1, we learn that Tony has married Margot for her money. A year ago, she was unhappy in their marriage and began seeing Max, a television murder-mystery writer. However, Max had to leave, and Tony promised to be an ideal husband. Margot thought she had kept her affair a secret, but her husband has found out and has hatched a plan to have her murdered. He blackmails C.A. Swan, an old school acquaintance into committing the murder.
The second act contains the action. The murder plot is enacted and then foiled, and Tony cleverly twists the facts to his own advantage. In the third act, the truth is discovered and the audience is kept in suspense as Tony is tricked into revealing his guilt.
The play is dependent on its three lead characters, and director Debra Nuhfer has enlisted three capable actors to carry the show. As Margot Wendice, Andrea Karas-Cicoretti channeled Grace Kelly. She was poised and innocently self-assured in Act 1, and became quietly hysterical as her world fell apart around her.
Ron Wolford’s Tony was appropriately slimy and clever, always in control and never revealing too much. Russ Nalepa played former paramour Max with a sweet sincerity, never giving up on Margot, though it appeared that everyone else had.
As the blackmailed would-be murderer Swan, aka Captain Lesgate, James R. Penn was both frightened and frightening. Meanwhile, Tim McGinley’s Inspector Hubbard was a powerful force. McGinley seems to have an uncanny ability to take over any scene in which he appears.
TNT’s sets are always impressive, and this one did not disappoint. The entire play takes place in the Wendice’s ground floor apartment in London, a set skillfully designed and created by Nuhfer and her crew. Complete with hardwood floors, beautifully painted walls, and a working fireplace, the Wendice’s flat was lovely and realistic.
As often happens in opening night performances, the cast seemed to feel a bit off at first. The pace of the show dragged, and the scene changes took far too long. However, as the performance went on, the actors seemed to find their place and pick it up a little. Some line flubs should be worked out while a few technical gaffes added unintentional humor to the production. Hopefully, the more they perform for an audience, the smoother the show will become.
“Dial M for Murder” continues Friday, Saturday, Sept 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 26 at 3.