Review: DIAL M FOR MURDER at Olney Theatre Center - It's Like 'CSI' In Person

Olney Theatre Artistic Director Jason Loewith noted in the program of DIAL M FOR MURDER that "Thrillers are the theatergoer's guilty pleasure". I plead GUILTY!! Recent such guilty pleasures I've seen were AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J. B. Priestly and DEATHTRAP by Ira Levin both at Everyman Theatre.

DIAL M FOR MURDER certainly has an interesting background. It is the first play written by Frederick Knott (after initially being aired on the BBC as a television play) and it opened in London's West End in June 1952. It even won the Edgar Allen Poe Award (how's that for a Baltimore connection). Four months later it opened on Broadway. And in 1954, Knott collaborated on the script with the acclaimed film director Alfred Hitchcock for the successful film starring Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings (remember the television series "Topper"?).

To be successful, a play needs great actors and thankfully MURDER is full of them. Tony Wendice (the handsome Ashley Smith who I thoroughly enjoy in the recurring role of Captain Wakefield in AMC's terrific series "Turn:Washington Spies") is a former tennis star and plans to kill his beautiful, wealthy and cheating wife Margot (Nisis Sturgis who looks so much like Grace Kelly) after finding a letter she received from her former lover Max Halliday (the wonderful Cameron McNary), an American mystery writer who comes to visit.

The snake-like Wendice concocts a scheme with an old classmate who he feels he can blackmail and convince to murder his wife while he has planned alibi. He convinces Captain Lesgate (convincingly played by James Konicek) to follow-through with his plan. Well, things don't often work out as planned.

There is a dead body in the Wendice lovely apartment in London. And there is the requisite Detective, Inspector Hubbard (played in a Columbo-esq. manner by Alan Wade who is celebrating his 44th-year relationship with OTV) who in his imitable manner must solve the crime. This is where playwright Knott as well as Director Jason King Jones shine. Jones decided to use a nice touch by using various people who serve as voices on the telephone when the phone rings in the Wendice apartment. They are Ned Cramer, Stephen Z. Kaufman, Delegate Ben Kramer, and Kathleen Quinn. The play and the actors work like a well-oiled machine and actually flies by in about two hours. I never looked at my watch.

Adding to an enjoyable evening, the spot-on furniture by Charlie Calvert (Scenic Designer), effective lighting by Sonya Dowhaluk, Eisenhower-era costumes by Seth M. Gilbert, and great mood music by Sound Designer Roc Lee.

Special kudos to Dialect Coach Zachary Compion who is responsible for the terrific British accents.

By the way, many of you may not realize that in the not too distant past, one had to dial a phone number on a rotary phone to use it, hence the title. In a clever move, the OTC has place a small work table in the lobby with an actual dial phone you can try.

DIAL M FOR MURDER continues until May 1, 2016. For tickets, call 301-924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org. It's a fun night of theater.

There will be post-show discussions following the 2 p.m. matinees on April 23 and 30.

BAKERSFIELD MIST is next up at OTC running May 12 to June 12 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab

OTC FEST 2016 is scheduled for Saturday, August 20 It features all day free events including performances, workshops movies, tours and food.

Highlights of the just announced 2016-2017 include Parts I and II of ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK, MARY POPPINS (running from Nov. 2 to January 1, 2017, a great holiday treat), SWEENEY TODD (my favorite musical), MY FAIR LADY, and a tribute to Baltimore's own THURGOOD about the Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Finally, I just discovered a new restaurant just three miles from OTC called Sardi's (perfect name for a restaurant near a theater!). It's a fusion Peruvian restaurant located at 3414 Olney Laytonsville Rd. Phone 301-774-2500. I highly recommend the Ultimate Mixed Grill that includes Peruvian Chicken, Carne Asada, Chorizo, and Grilled Shrimp served with two side orders of your choice. All for just $22. I also recommend the terrific Sangria. It has a wide and varied menu.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

THIS AND THAT

Just heard that NBC's next LIVE musical will be HAIRSPRAY to be performed on December 7, 2016.

For all you E. Faye Butler fans (and I know there are many in both the Baltimore and Washington area), she will be performing in the exclusive new chamber version of GHOST: THE MUSICAL running April 19 to May 14 at the lovely, national historic landmark Fulton Opera House (built in 1852) located at 12 North Prince Street in Lancaster, PA. for more information, call 717-397-7425 or visit www.TheFulton.org. Butler will be playing the role of Oda Mae Brown.

Welcome to Sunday morning is a new "Today Show" with host Willie Geist. On the premiere episode it featured a great behind the scenes of the hit musical HAMILTON and a nice interview with Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr). /article/STAGE-TUBE-Go-Backstage-at-HAMILTON-with-Leslie-Odom-Jr-and-TODAYS-Willie-Geist-20160417

Congratulations to HAMILTON for just winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama!!!

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