Dial M For Murder

First broadcast in 1952 as a BBC television event, Dial M For Murder by Frederick Knott found fame two years later as the near-perfect Alfred Hitchcock thriller, with Grace Kelly and Ray Milland as the wealthy couple involved in deadly doings in their posh London flat. Much adapted, this latest version by American thriller writer Jeffrey Hatcher comes as the Xmas Show at the Ensemble Theatre, so much will be riding on it.

The setting by Nick Fry is quite marvellous. A deep red wallpaper with neat matching furniture and masses of drinks bottles proclaim the owners’ big expense accounts. 

To Margot and Tony Wendice’s elegant drawing room comes Maxine Hadley, an American thriller writer and secret girlfriend of Margot. Whenever they get the chance, it’s quick kisses and cuddles between the women. Not that Tony hasn’t noticed: he’s just biding his time.

For Tony (Garth Holcombe) is tall and dapper, and expertly runs his life, giving nothing away. His wife Margot (Anna Samson) tries to hide her affair with Maxine (Madeleine Jones, but Tony knows and is up for revenge. Cue for many gasps and murmurs from the assembled audience.

Enter Captain Lesgate (David Soncin), an embittered man scraping a living off the streets, who accepts Tony’s challenge to kill Margot for a meagre five thousand pounds.

There is much to-ing and froing about the only two latch keys to the apartment, but eventually Margot confronts the Captain and, in a fight to the death, manages to strike the main blow. 

The second half opens with the arrival of a new character. Inspector Hubbard (Kenneth Moraleda) comes to interview the three witnesses, which he does relentlessly, digging away at their stories. The latch keys are much discussed, as are two suspected blackmail notes.

You’d think the whole affair would be soon over when Margot is arrested, sent before a jury, and a date is set for her hanging (yes, it’s still hanging time in Britain). But…

Garth Holcombe is extra tall and completely in charge as the bringer of revenge. Anna Samson is often confused and baffled as his wife, quite rightly. Madeleine Jones plays straight and true as the American caught up in this mess. Kenneth Moraleda is impressively persevering, and David Soncin is entirely convincing but doesn’t make it to the interval.

The whole affair is in the safe hands of director Mark Kilmurry.

Frank Hatherley