Review: DIAL 'M' FOR MURDER is a Slow Burning Thriller at the IRT

A young couple in 1950s London is not quite as happy as they may first appear. Soon the audience discovers that the husband is plotting his wife's murder. Matt Mueller plays the malevolent husband Tony. He's cold and calculating, but still the eternal British gentleman. He's decided he wants his wife's money and has no qualms about killing her to get it. Robert Neal provides a great foe as Chief Inspector Hubbard.

The set, designed by Kate Sutton-Johnson, is gorgeous period piece. The 1950s apartment has a classic feel, with vintage furniture and luscious wallpaper. One odd element was the decision to project images on the back wall during phone calls. Each time a character made a phone call, close ups of the person on the other end of the line were shown, which was distracting and immediately takes you out of the action. It disrupted the flow of the play, providing a jarring reminder that the scene in front of you is staged.

The show is well-plotted, but those expecting gasps at every turn will be disappointed. Dial "M" has a slow burn approach to the thriller genre. It's murder presented as a chess game rather than a high-speed chase.

The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, one-half block west of the Circle Center Mall between northbound Illinois St. and southbound Capitol Ave. Dial "M" for Murder runs until May 21 on IRT's One America Mainstage. To purchase tickets or find performance times, call (317) 635-5252 or order online at www.irtlive.com.