Podcasts and true crime documentaries are so in. But what about the theatre? No one puts on a better murder mystery than a 1950s playwright. The Pioneer Theatre Company’s (PTC) most recent production is “Dial M for Murder.”
Honey, I’m Home!
The PTC is exceptional at building a story. The lighting setup of “Dial M for Murder” dims quite perfectly, just like the first daylight savings evening when the sun goes down at 5 p.m.
The Wendices’ apartment is rich but tasteful, like old money. A place full of harmony and warmth where one falls in love, grows a family and dies old. The set of the play made me feel right at home, safe and sound. Or so one thinks.
When there are days of warmth there are also nights of drizzle. The sound of lightning, wind and rain throughout the production made me feel like I was sitting outside with nature. The tone of warmth and coolness were inimitable which helped follow the complex story of “Dial M for Murder.”
Deception, Betrayal and Murder!
“Dial M for Murder” is a rendition of Frederick Knotts’s 1952 play, which was then made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock. The play centers around the couple Tony Wendice (Dan Domingues) and Margot Wendice (Awesta Zarif). When Tony finds out about Margot’s affair with a friend of his, Maxine Hadley (Lucy Lavely), his feelings of betrayal and deception lead him to decide to murder his own wife.
Although, Tony doesn’t murder his wife himself. He hires a hitman, Lesgate (Aaron Cammack), to kill Margot. However, his plan takes a turn when the purposeful botched robbery turned murder doesn’t go to plan, and Margot ends up killing Lesgate herself. Worrisome and frustrated, Tony tries to cover his tracks when Inspector Hubbard (Peter Howard) tries to solve the case, which eventually leads to Tony’s arrest and Margot and Maxine having a happily ever after.
The suspense is immaculate throughout the play. Domingues’ clever comebacks and wittiness as Tony make you think he will get away with murder. The situation is quite unpredictable if you are not familiar with the story, and Domingues makes sure you’re not clever enough to see right through him, even eventually wanting him to get away with murder.
On-Stage Spotlights
The crowd’s favorite was definitely Howard as Inspector Hubbard. Inspector Hubbard seems like a clumsy grandfather but the delivery on his lines and his gentle but goofy persona had the crowd cracking up. Howard does a spectacular job in playing the murder detective, even if you weren’t so sure if he could get the job solved.
And, of course, we can’t forget about Zarif’s and Lavely’s love connection as Margot and Maxine. The ladies were captivating with their 50s fashion, delivery and love. Lavely and Zarif demonstrated the hardships of their characters’ love affair full of tragedy, insecurities and a husband. However, that doesn’t mean their loyalty, trust and forgiveness were never there. They made it quite apparent and real. Zarif and Lavely capture this love triangle effortlessly where the two eventually end up together. Their captivating love made you forget that “Dial M for Murder” was even a murder mystery.
