Dial M For Murder

There's little doubting the popularity of murder mysteries and detective fiction. Consequently Agatha Christie's plays are a fail-safe drawcard for many community theatre organisations. Frederick Knott  wrote both the play and screenplay for Dial M For Murder in the early 1950s. It's a murder mystery with a twist, in that it's not so much a 'who-dunnit' as a 'will-he-get-busted'. 

Tony Wendice is a retired Tennis Pro who married for money. When he discovers his wife Margot has been having an affair he devises an intricate plan to have her killed.

Director Brendon Flynn has gone to a lot of trouble to ensure the play retains its 1950s flavour, with a mood-enhancing set, stylish art direction and background music. The deliciously sinister central character of Tony looms quietly like a shark, circling his prey and the experienced Greg Eccleston (in his first role for WWLT) attacks each nuance of this role with relish. WWLT regular, Sierra Phillips plays Margot with enigmatic 'Hitchcockian' elegance throughout. GMS regular Greg Buist, playing Margot's charming American boyfriend, comes into his own in the second act as the threads of Tony's plot begin to unravel and the stakes are raised. Theatre newcomers Tony Burke and John Lusty do well considering the importance of their pivotal roles as Detective and 'Bad Guy' respectively.

Some opening night technical hitches did nothing to mar the tension. In 2008 Dial M for Murder was listed at number 9 of the American Film Institutes Top Ten Mysteries of all time – in amongst several other Alfred Hitchcock directed films. Vertigo was at Number 1. It's a true testament to the writing that the suspense keeps crackling all the way through with a clever story that definitely stands the test of time.

Rose Cooper

Images: (top) Greg Eccleston, (middle) Lesgate (John Lusty) stalks Margot (Sierra Phillips) with murder on his mind & (below) Greg Buist (Max), Tony Burke (Inspector Hubbard), Sierra Phillips (Margot), John Lusty (Lesgate) and Greg Eccleston (Tony).