Review: Actors’ Playhouse Mixes Gasps and Laughs in ‘Dial M For Murder’

Mallory Newbrough as Margot and Lindsey Corey as Maxine in “Dial M for Murder” at Actors’
Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre through Sunday, June 7 at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. (Photo by Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

Actors’ Playhouse once again puts audiences within arm’s reach of murder in its intimate and comfortable balcony space. Following productions of “Murder on the Orient Express” and “The Girl on the Train,” the company is staging Jeffrey Hatcher’s 2022 adaptation of Frederick Knott’s “Dial M for Murder.”

“Dial M for Murder” didn’t become a thriller staple because of Knott’s 1952 play but moreso because of Alfred Hitchcock’s stylish 1954 film adaptation put it on the map. Hatcher modernizes some of the dialogue and character dynamics while keeping the action firmly placed in the 1950s.

One of the most notable changes is transforming Max Hadley into Maxine Hadley, Margot Wendice’s former lover. The shift adds additional layers of secrecy and risk in 1950s London beyond merely marital infidelity.

Ben Sandomir as Tony Wendice and Mallory Newbrough as Margot Wendice in “Dial M for Murder” at Actors’ Playhouse. (Photo by Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

Director David Arisco refers to the work as a “puzzle play,” and his production treats it exactly that way. The story begins with what seems like a model marriage, followed by the revelation of a secret affair and a carefully orchestrated murder plot that intriguingly unravels as the evening unfolds. The most fun comes from watching the pieces click into place. Then there’s Maxine, a New York-based mystery writer, who is just as determined to solve the mystery as she is to win back her woman.

Arisco has assembled a top-notch cast, led by Ben Sandomir as Tony Wendice. Hatcher’s update makes Tony a failed novelist who works for Maxine’s publisher rather than a tennis pro, creating an added layer of history and tension between the husband and his wife’s former lover.

From left, David Arisco directs Ben Sandomir and Mallory Newbrough during a rehearsal for Actors’ Playhouse’s “Dial M for Murder.” (Photo by Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

Lindsey Corey continues to be one of South Florida theater’s most interesting actors to watch because she consistently finds a distinct point of view for her characters. Here, she gives Maxine a sharp intelligence and no-frills confidence.

As the lone American amid a cast of British-accented characters, Corey also reinforces Maxine’s status as an outsider looking in.

Like Corey, Mallory Newbrough is one of those actors capable of tackling any role. Here, she balances vulnerability with comic instincts as Margot and shows an unexpected flair for physical comedy as the increasingly frazzled wife caught at the center of the plot.

Cigarette in hand, Lindsey Corey’s mystery writer, Maxine, carries herself as someone who is always one step ahead of the game. Mallory Newbrough shows a knack for physical comedy as her former lover Margot Wendice in “Dial M for Murder” at Actors’ Playhouse. (Photo by Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

Despite the pair’s acting strengths, their relationship as a romantic couple didn’t play powerful enough to alter the course of multiple lives. Whether the choice for emotional reserve reflected the social constraints of the era or simply the production’s interpretation of the characters is difficult to say, but the connection between the two women was too understated. As a result, the adaptation’s most significant update didn’t  always heighten the stakes in the way it seems intended.

Fortunately, there are plenty of parlor tricks to keep the plot on overdrive. Sandomir is wonderfully calculating as Wendice, adding a sly and unsettling mix of charm and cold precision to the character. Daniel Llaca as Lesgate looks like a villain from a silent movie and provides solid support as the man who gets drawn into a murder-for-hire scheme.

Stephen G. Anthony brings a Cockney accent and a no-b.s. approach to Inspector Hubbard as his investigation begins to uncover the carefully constructed plan.

Daniel Llaca as Lesgate has murderous intentions in mind for Mallory Newbrough as Margot Wendice. (Photo by Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

The production is equally well served by the design team. K. April Soroko’s scenic design creates an authentic setting for the Wendices’ 1950s London home, with a comfortable living room complemented by an office area and desk at stage right where much of the plotting unfolds. Period-specific props by property master Sam Sigler and properties consultant Jodi Dellaventura help establish the era.

Ellis Tillman’s costumes further cement the production in the 1950s, from the women’s stylish dresses and Margot’s tailored pantsuits to Inspector Hubbard’s detective-worthy trench coat. Eric Nelson’s lighting and Reidar Sorensen’s sound design support the suspenseful atmosphere, while Lee Soroko’s fight choreography finds just the right blend of intrigue and humor.

The struggle between Margot and her would-be killer earns both gasps and laughs, particularly after an attack leaves a man sprawled on the floor with scissors sticking out of his back.

Ben Sandomir as Tony Wendice has a plan and wants Daniel Llaca as Lesgate in on the game in “Dial M for Murder” at Actors’ Playhouse. (Photo by
Javier Franceschi, courtesy of GableStage)

Arisco frequently leans into the play’s comic possibilities with a wink to the clever plotting and carefully woven twists.

True crime podcast bingers, mystery lovers and armchair detectives will be in their element, but Actors’ Playhouse’s production provides plenty of suspenseful and humorous entertainment even for those more interested in the journey than solving the crime.

WHAT: “Dial M for Murder” adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, original story by Frederick Knott

WHERE: Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables

WHEN: Performances 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday, June 7.

COST: $50, $70, $80, $95

INFORMATION: (305) 444-9293 or actorsplayhouse.org

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