Dial M for Murder

Dial M for Murder has a complicated plot and dialogue and is not an easy play by any stretch of the imagination. The five strong and experienced cast members were excellent in making a success of this classic crime thriller with all its twists and turns. Each character was well defined, and the actors played their roles convincingly with good diction and projection. 

Kiera Rhodes played Margot Wendice giving a first-class performance as the wealthy wife of Tony Wendice. Kiera delivered all the expected characteristics and more. Her character changed beautifully between scenes with her lover                      Mark Halliday to those with her husband Tony Wendice (Adam Diskin) is a retired tennis player who has discovered a love letter sent to his wife who is having an affair with American crime-fiction writer, Mark Halliday.                                               Tony starts planning how to get Margot killed so he can inherit her fortune and then starts to anonymously blackmail her while pretending that all is well between them. Adam had copious amounts of lengthy dialogue which was pivotal                        to the developing storyline. Adam was brilliant in this very challenging role, and he very rarely left the stage  . Callum Reid, with a very good American accent and lengthy speeches, gave a superb performance and portrayal of the American           crime-fiction writer, Mark Halliday, who never really believed that Tony was telling the truth about Margot.   Paul Voodini also gave a superb performance as a very self-confident Captain Lesgate, real name Charles Swann.                                          He is an old acquaintance of Tony and has become a small-time con man. Tony entraps him and threatens to turn him in as Margot’s blackmailer unless he kills her. After careful planning, the time comes for the murder, but things do not                   go to plan and during the fight Margot kills Swann.  .Graham Millar gave an excellent performance as Inspector Hubbard. Although Tony Wendice tries to convince him that Margot had murdered Swann and was blackmailing her, through           Hubbard’s persistence he very cleverly solves the crime and saves Margot from the gallows.  

The direction was excellent, likewise the set, lighting, and costumes and everything matched-up to the era it was written for. Congratulations to Alison and the whole team on a first-class production.

Thank you to everyone at Ecclesall Theatre Company for providing us with an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

 

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