Review: DIAL M FOR MURDER at Omaha Community Playhouse Keeps You on Your Toes!

When you think of DIAL M FOR MURDER, you may be old enough to remember Alfred Hitchcock's suspenseful movie starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland in 1954. If the play is new to you, you will enjoy Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s screenplay on a more modern level. Either way, this tale of intrigue and quick thinking will titillate your senses and keep you on your toes.

Frederick Knott, known as “The Reluctant Writer," was said to have hated writing and that he wrote only for money.  He wrote few plays, but was extremely successful. This particular play follows the Wendices living in London. Tony Wendice works in publishing after an unsuccessful run at writing. His socialite wife Margot is the one with the money and is an unhappy wife with a secret. Maxine Hadley, an American crime novelist who likes to itemize all the possible ways to murder a victim, is a client of Tony’s and close friend of Margot’s. When Tony suspects Margot of having an affair, he concocts a plan to murder her. He hires a former schoolmate, Lesgate, to do the deed. Inspector Hubbard enters with critical thinking and the perseverance of a bulldog to unravel the murder. The story is less of a “whodunit” (we know who done it) and more of a will-they-succeed and how will this all play out?

Addie Barnhart does a marvelous job keeping the pacing rapid and tight. There is no room for empty pauses and slow movement. There is a continuous excitement that builds throughout the roughly two hour show. The succession of detailed clues, the off the cuff responses and the ongoing need to track the lies keep the audience guessing.

Josh Peyton as the conniving Tony is superb. His delivery of lines is sharp with a believable British accent that is clearly understood. Peyton can speak volumes with the smallest gesture or facial expression. Tilting his head at just the right moment, pausing at a critical part of speech- his timing is perfect. Nothing is unintentional. All of it creates a complex, captivating character that ensnares you. He is just that good.

Contrasting with the sketchy Tony, Margot (Nina Washington) appears the innocent. But she has a secret life she is hiding from her husband. Washington shines in a gorgeous red gown designed by Bradley Pesarchick. The gown says everything about the image Margot is trying to maintain, beautiful, shiny, and rich. Washington steadily grows from the stereotypical soft spoken socialite to a woman who can speak for herself, defend herself, and fight for the truth.

Mackenzie Zorn plays the plucky American crime novelist and friend Maxine Hadley. She evolves from someone who imagines murder in print to actually sleuthing out a murder. Zorn has a natural ability to embody a character. Her diction is precise and clear. Zorn’s Hadley is no nonsense, smart and practical despite being a person who lives off of pretense.

These three are accompanied by diametrically opposed persons. The Inspector played by Brett Foster is the play’s Columbo. He is strong. He is insistent. His job is to ferret out false narratives and find the real story and he isn’t about to be distracted. He is quick with lines and forceful in his presence. There’s no getting around him.

Lesgate (Seth Maisel) on the other hand just doesn’t know who he is. He morphs into a double dealer who clearly is out for himself. Money is his motivator, but he doesn't have the brain Tony does. Maisel does a great job filling out this interesting character which involves a lot of physicality. He is a burst of personality on the stage which is beautifully designed by Jim Othuse, who never fails to amaze me. The opulent chandelier, the ornate doors, the lovely furnishings all create a home for the well to do.

Soft music plays in the background, composed by the talented Kyle Thomas.

If you love a good mystery, this is for you. If you don't care about mysteries, but love a good drama, this is for you. If you prefer a comedy to make you laugh, this is still for you! You can't go wrong by taking a seat in the Omaha Community Playhouse for this production. I don't have enough superlatives to describe how fun this show is. Discover for yourselves.

The play runs at OCP April 7 through May 10. Tickets are available online at ticketomaha.com or by calling the Box Office at 402-553-0800.

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