‘Dial M for Murder’ opens June 12 at the Azuay Community Theater

By Scott Levine

More twists and turns than a drive through the Cajas! Usually when couples disagree, they slam a door, drop a few F-bombs, maybe toss a platter or two. But rarely does one party decide that the correct solution is … murder!

In ACT’s newest production, Dial M for Murder, however, that’s just what writer/publisher Tony Wendice does upon discovering his wife Margot’s affair. And not just any affair — she’s cheating with a female crime novelist, which amps up the drama and adds a touch of poetic justice later in the play. Consumed with the desire for revenge and meticulous to a fault, Tony spends a year concocting a fiendishly elaborate murder plot, key elements of which include blackmailing a former acquaintance to do his dirty work and creating airtight alibi to protect himself from any suspicion. 

Tickets, Times and Location
Tickets are available at www.actseats.com for $15. Performances run June 12, 13, 14 and 15 with curtain time at 3:00 pm. Recommended arrival for best seat selection is no later than 2:45pm.

Cash bar happy hour starts at 2:00pm with drinks and snacks available for purchase. The theater is located in El Centro at Antonio Vega Muñoz 14-46 between Coronel Tálbot and Estévez de Toral. Maps link: https://g.co/kgs/grt4hik 

Free, off-street parking is available in the adjacent lot.

Is the Murderer’s Plan Elaborate?
Totally. But is it foolproof? Not on your life. When the attempted murder goes off the rails, Tony scrambles to stay one step ahead of a rapidly unraveling investigation. With the crime novelist/former lover and an aggressive local detective searching for answers, the heat is on. And Tony must work feverishly to stay one step ahead. As the story convolves, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat.

Relatable Updated Script
ACT’s production of Dial M for Murder is based on Jeffrey Hatcher’s updated stage script, which premiered in 2021. The Chicago Sun-Times called it “a satisfying thriller that breathes new life into a potentially musty script.” In fact, the 21st-century update brings fresh relevance, with the addition of:

• A Same Sex Love Interest: The character Max Halliday, Margot’s lover in the original, is reimagined as Maxine Hadley, transforming the affair into a same-sex relationship, adding a contemporary and relatable flair; 
• Enhanced Female Characters: Hatcher gives Characters Margot and Maxine more depth, aligning with modern standards.
• Snappier Dialogue: The script features quicker pacing and sharper dialogue.

New Direction for ACT
Director Gerald Cole notes that the show is a deliberate pivot. “While ACT’s script selections run broad and deep, a suspense thriller is new for the company. For example, this season has seen a Pulitzer-winning comedy set in small-town America, a Christmas classic from Victorian-era England, a quirky late-in-life rom-com, and a sophisticated comedy set on Manhattan’s tony Upper West Side. The consistent thread is heart-warming comedy. But by contrast, this show is neither heart-warming nor a comedy!”

Audiences love comedies, and they’re usually easier to stage thanks to simpler technical demands. Thrillers, by contrast, often need dramatic lighting, more sophisticated sound effects, and actors must convey subtle shifts in tone, deception, and believable high-stakes emotion.

Cole continued, “With a variety-hungry audience, crack technical resources and an expanded pool of acting talent, the time is right to stretch into new directions. ACT is ready to wow audiences with a powerful, polished production.”

Meet the Cast and Crew
The cast combines newer players and seasoned ACT veterans. Megan Edwards, who made her impressive ACT debut in The Allergist’s Wife, plays Margot Wendice. Kit Thornton and Cody Hamilton, both ACT veterans, play Tony Wendice and Maxine Handley. Larry Bilsky, featured in this season’s Harvey plays Lesgate and newcomer Michael Fiore, makes his ACT debut as Inspector Hubbard.

Cast

Margot Wendice………………..Megan Edwards
Maxine Hadley……………………Cody Hamilton
Tony Wendice……………………….Kit Thornton
Lesgate……………………………… Larry Bilsky
Inspector Hubbard……………. …Michael Fiore

Crew 

Director………………………………Gerald Cole
Light and Sound…………………….Mike Casto
Stage Manager…………………..Mark Deckard
Set Design………………………….Marion Keith
Prompter………………………. Regina Potenza

A Title with Many Lives
The tale of dark deceit and murder has thrilled generations of audiences. The stage version premiered in London in June 1952, and then opened on Broadway in October of the same year. ACT theatergoers may know it best as a 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie starring Ray Milland and a luminous Grace Kelly. It has a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes and you can find the movie streaming for free on Plex at https://watch.plex.tv/movie/dial-m-for-murder. 

Tickets are available at www.actseats.com for $15. Performances run June 12, 13, 14 and 15 with a 3:00 pm curtain time.