Dial M for Murder

Thanks so much for inviting me back to Coronation Hall on what was a very
warm evening. I absolutely love this old murder mystery, and although it was
many years ago I saw the film, I do remember Ray Milland and Grace Kelly
giving top notch performances. I’d not seen the play before, so was very
much looking forward to it.
My first impression upon entering the hall was how excellent the set was. So
many nice details and although a small space, it felt very roomy for
manoeuvres. I could hear some lovely comments around the room
complimenting it. It certainly looked very solid and safe. The glass doors with
the trellis outside looked beautiful when lit, the authentic radio above the
fireplace and I noticed the cut out news paper article framed and on the wall
when Tony won the Town Championships. The use of a piano stool under the
desk was a bit odd, but I think using a high back chair would have rather
cluttered the space and more awkward to manoeuvre later in the play
whereas the stool was tidy and neat. Good choice.
Great choice of music used as a slight overture before the play started and
for some scene changes. A touch more volume would have been good to
draw the audience in right from the off but certainly set the tone and period.
The lighting too added great atmosphere throughout and was expertly timed
with the lighting switches.
Characterisations felt spot on. I absolutely believed everybody. I felt a lot of
thought had gone into this and your time and attention to detail paid off. I
liked how everybody played for real, it would be so easy to caricature these
characters but rightly so you didn’t.
This was a very good first night. Did it all go perfectly? No it didn’t but any
little mishaps were handled extremely professionally and quite rightly so
laughed about at the end. How else would we have these wonderful theatrical
stories to laugh about in the future. The little details I spotted that maybe
could have been thought about were Tony’s dress trousers with the blazer
just didn’t look right. I know you had a quick change but you could have done
it with a bit of planning. Maxine also took a cigaret from a box and started
smoking it before lighting. Made me smile. I imagine the lighter was missing?

I thought Shiela’s lovely haircut was just a bit modern and flat for the period -
there are plenty of affordable (and good) wigs out there on line it would have
just finished off the character. The photograph which I think got produced in
the second half could have been a proper photo rather than blank paper that
we could see through, all these little details just add to the bigger picture and
just adds that bit more polish. Other details like the sofa being moved during
Lesgate’s fall and not being put back into place during the interval hindered
The inspectors direction later in act two when he tried to get between the
sofa and the fireplace. I was grateful when Tony just nudged it across during
one of the scenes. Well done.
The pacing throughout the production was steady and confident. Scenes
moved along smoothly, keeping the story engaging without ever feeling
hurried, the cast maintained an energy that held the audience’s attention. I
also thought the balance between quieter moments and sharper bursts of
tension worked especially well, giving the plot room to unfold while still
building suspense. For a first night this was very good and would have only
built sharper as the week progressed.
Having said all that, I really did enjoy it very very much, as did the audience.
Well done Bleadon Players on a great night at the theatre.
SOUND AND LIGHTING
This was all pretty spot on. Just a bit more volume on the in between music
to make us sit up and listen, but all cues seemed well timed and felt perfectly
lit, giving us great atmosphere when needed.
COSTUMES
Everyone seemed really well dressed. (I’ve already mentioned the dress
trousers on Tony), but other than that I wouldn’t have thought they were that
difficult to source and as no one was mentioned in the program under
costumes I assume everyone sourced their own. All colour choices seemed
good and blended with the set perfectly.
TONY WENDICE (Scott)
You delivered a commanding and consistently strong performance, shaping
him into a man whose charm, intelligence, and quiet menace were always
sharply in focus. You balanced the suave exterior with a simmering
calculation beneath it, using crisp, deliberate vocal delivery and a controlled
physical presence to suggest a mind constantly at work. You were strong in
every scene, and shifted seamlessly between affable husband and ruthless
schemer, maintaining a steady grip on the tension and ensuring every
moment felt intentional. You never overplayed the villainy, letting the danger
sit just under the surface, making the character’s unravelling all the more
compelling. This was a confident, layered portrayal that anchored the
production.

SHIELA WENDICE (Louise)
This portrayal had an engaging presence, and you brought a natural
emotional clarity to the role that made your scenes compelling throughout.
You captured Shiela‘s vulnerability and quiet strength with ease, offering a
performance that felt grounded, sympathetic and consistently well judged. I
felt a lovely authenticity and you navigated the characters shifting
circumstances with confidence. My one small note as suggested earlier that a
wig might have helped complete the period look and fully finish off the
characters visual transformation, even so this was a very good, thoughtful
performance that added depth to the production.
CAPTAIN LESGATE (Peter)
You played this character with a confident and relaxed assurance that
immediately put the audience at ease and your scenes had a natural flow that
made the character both believable and quietly compelling. There was a
grounded strength to your performance, the kind that comes from an actor
fully in control of his craft, and this steadiness helped anchor the more
intense moments of the plot. What made this even more impressive was
knowing you also directed the production, carrying both roles is no small
task, yet you handled it with clarity composure and real skill. This
performance never felt compromised by the added pressure showcasing your
capability for both on stage and off contributing significantly to the overall
success of the play.
MAXINE HALLIDAY (Linda)
You brought a truth, ease and emotional honesty within the reimagining of the
role in the part of the same-sex relationship,it felt completely natural. Not for
a moment did it seem at odds with the original writing. You grounded the
character with the sincerity that made every interaction feel lived in and real,
allowing the audience to invest fully in your circumstances without ever
questioning the adaptation. Your performance had a quiet strength and a
beautifully understated vulnerability, and you carried the role with confidence
of an actress who knows exactly how to shape a moment without forcing it.
Having admired your work in other productions it was a pleasure to see you
bring the same calibre of skill here, this was a thoughtful convincing portrayal
that added real depth to the story.

INSPECTOR HUBBARD (Tim)
I enjoyed your portrayal. You had a quiet authoritative presence that suited
the role perfectly, and you looked every bit the seasoned inspector, carrying
yourself with the kind of understated confidence you’d expect to see in an
old Colombo episode or an Agatha Christie adaptation. Your performance
was believable from the outset, grounded in a natural ease that made your
investigative moments feel sharp without ever seeming forced. You held the
stage with a strong, steady energy, guiding the audience through the twists of
the plot with clarity and charm. Altogether, it was a convincing well judged
portrayal.
ANNOUNCER (Nigel)
Although only on stage briefly, you brought a welcome sense of experience
and steadiness to the production. An old stalwart of the amateur scene you
added quiet value and an assured presence. Although this was a small role
you handled it with ease.
DIRECTOR (Peter Gibbon)
Considering you also took on the role of Captain Lesgate, you delivered a
good production that came very close to being great, and it’s clear you
carried a huge amount on your shoulders. A couple more rehearsals and
perhaps a few focused line runs might have tightened everything perfectly,
but what you achieved especially while performing as well was genuinely
impressive. With the support of your assistant Gemma Milford, who I
understand helped shape the scenes you appeared in you, brought together
an evening of excellent theatre that kept the audience fully engaged. We were
all so captivated by the story and performances that we completely forgot
about the heat, which says everything about the strength of the night.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much for inviting me. I really appreciate a good night out at the
theatre.
Already looking forward to “Dibley”.
Have a great summer all.
Best wishes
Mike

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