“Dial M for Murder” – Arizona Theatre Company

Chris Curcio October 21, 2024 Theater 2 Comments

Theater Review – October 21, 2024

EVEN A STELLAR PRODUCTION CAN’T MAKE “DIAL M FOR MURDER” A VIABLE SHOW FOR TODAY’S AUDIENCES

“Dial M for Murder”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe, AZ

By Chris Curcio
Theater Critic

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) has brought tremendous resources to its season opening production of Frederick Knott’s 1952 stage and television thriller “Dial M for Murder.”  An impressive acting ensemble essay the five roles with distinction.  An elaborate set creates an appropriate London living room where the action occurs and wonderful period costumes further enhance the lush visual look.

But Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation which attempts to bring the play to a contemporary sensibility sputter and fails to disguise the play’s creaky, old fashioned, senseless, and needlessly convoluted plot.  The inane story and easily predictable characters are so far from any reality that updating the piece can’t make it relevant. Hatcher keeps the play as a period piece but tries, without success, to bring meaning to the piece for current audiences.

The silly story line dooms the tired play.  If ATC wanted to produce a nifty murder/thriller, there are a myriad of better plays that grip and tantalize audiences. Reminding readers of the ridiculous plot would be counterproductive plus there are so many blatant hints early in the play that make the plot easily ascertained.  A murder occurs and suspects include almost everybody in the show.

The play drags on for two hours but it seems endless as it rambles and bumbles along with innocuous twists that try but don’t disguise the feeble plot.  There’s only one surprise that must have been very modern back in 1952 but it won’t be revealed here. The audience awkwardly laughs a few times because events are so nonsensical.

As the husband/wife team at the play’s center, Dan Domingues portrays the slyly amorous Tony Wendice with aplomb while Awesta Zarif is the cleverly sophisticated Margot with her hidden truth.  Lucy Lavely is the couple’s seeming friend, Maxine Hadley.  Peter Howard is the blustery Inspector Hubbard and Aaron Cammack is the multiple personality Lesgate.

Since ATC has made Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) its permanent local home, some issues must be resolved.  It was so cold in the theater that audiences were uncomfortable but when a house manager was asked to fix the freezing temperatures, he said “nothing could be done,” a rude and obnoxious response.  The problematic parking garage is a lengthy walk from the theater and there is no easy pick-up place for handicapped patrons.  The TCA is not proving an audience-friendly performance space.

“Dial M for Murder” is the biggest ATC disappointment in several seasons because the script is ancient.  It continues through November 3 at the Tempe Center for the Arts.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the Arizona Theatre Company box office at 833-ATC-SEAT or order online at www.boxoffice@atc.org.

Grade: C

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2 Responses to ““Dial M for Murder” – Arizona Theatre Company”

  1. Liz said:

    Oct 24, 24 at 08:05

    I strongly disagree. Once the performance leaned into the farce (strongly aided by the inspector), the play rallied. The theater temperature was fine. We saw a numberof folks getting dropped off. Thanks for your review, but maybe you were expecting Hitchcock instead of fun.

  2. Chris Curcio said:

    Oct 25, 24 at 16:50

    The temperature could have varied with different performances. At the performance I attended I heard many comments about the cold temperature. I am glad you were able to enjoy the performance without freezing to death as I and many of the audience did. I wasn’t expecting a Hitchcock movie and, as I said the performers were excellent. It was the creaky old show and the plot was not unexpected and such a well known mystery is difficult to enjoy and Knott, the playwright did much better mysteries later in his career. With all the resources Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) put into the show, I wish they had spent it on better material. ATC remains one of a few top theater producers in the country and in the State and we are lucky to have such a fine theater company. What ATC does for plays, The Phoenix Theatre Company does for musicals. Only occasionally do we get to see a good touring company of top current Broadway productions at ASU Gammage where hearing and seeing shows is such a challenge.