When I wrote our original feature for DIAL M FOR MURDER, running this week at the New Theatre in Cardiff, I said I came to this show as a huge fan of the original 1950s movie.
When I interviewed one of the stars, TOM CHAMBERS, he wondered if I would indeed enjoy the play, as it differs in tone to the movie.
Wonder no more Tom, I loved it, and actually it’s the differences which makes it a really enjoyable and gripping production.
Dial M is an unusual murder mystery, as in you know ‘whodunit’ pretty much from the start, but it’s the question it poses which keeps you guessing – even if you’ve seen the movie. Can you in fact ever commit the ‘perfect murder‘?
What I enjoyed about this production is the way it retained the elements of the original play and movie, and yet somehow feels more modern, even though they’ve set it in the 1960s.
The set itself, designed by David Woodhead, is a reflection of the times. As Tom said in our interview, it’s very John Lewis in its look, which you can see from the moment you walk into the auditorium. The curtain is raised and the set is visible throughout – something that feels right with this production.
You definitely want a little snoop inside the flat before the ‘residents‘ get on stage.
And the set is important, it stays the same right through the story and a lot goes on in it. Records are played, phone calls are made, and drinks are poured. There’s the crime of course, and all that follows post the dirty deed. The actors have plenty to do physically on set, so the fact we’ve had an opportunity to absorb the Maida Vale flat is important to the plot.
Tom Chambers (yes the guy from Casualty, Holby, Strictly, and countless song & dance productions) is the occasionally charming, always scheming Tony Wendice, a deeply flawed ex tennis player. His obsession with money far outweighs his love for his wife.
Diana Vickers, who you may remember from the X Factor (series 6) is his wife Margot, who is serving up a little bit on the side with Max Halliday (Michael Salami from Hollyoaks), an affair which Tony discovers.
Tony plans to have Margot killed, not only because of the affair but the money too. These were the days when tennis players didn’t earn millions from the game, so he wants to get his hands on his financially secure wife’s money.
He recruits, or maybe I should say manipulates Captain Lesgate for the job, played by Christopher Harper from Coronation Street (he was fantastic in Corrers incidentally), he also plays the part of Inspector Hubbard, perfectly. There was a couple next to us muttering that it was ‘him’ again, but to be honest, you quickly forget he’s playing two roles.
There’s a handbag stealing, affair discovering moment around this part of the story, which I don’t want to spoil. Needless to say that the Captain agrees to the job as Tony explains what and when it needs to be done.
The dialogue, like Tony’s tennis playing, is back and forth and sometimes frenetic. It takes a great team to pull off a script like this, and the Dial M cast perform it perfectly. If you take a look back at our interview with Tom you’ll hear him say how long it took them to master this, and get it right. When you think just how many times this production was moved and rescheduled because of Covid, it’s even more impressive.
This does mean for us in the audience, there’s a lot to take in, and we have to keep our wits about us, but trust me, it’s worth it. It really is edge of the seat stuff. I’ve seen the film more times than I care to reveal and my heart was still racing at the appropriate moments.
The use of music is minimal but effective and sets the theme from the moment you take your seat, with some good old 60s favourites playing. They also include a song from The Beatles’ Revolver album at a key point in the production, which is both brilliant and eerie. The way they use Tomorrow Never Knows towards the end of the play, along with the lighting is really fantastic.
It’s well documented that John Lennon drew inspiration from his experiences with the hallucinogenic drug LSD. It was a song that broke all the rules at the time, which in a weird way makes it the ideal theme for Tony’s slightly warped, backward way of thinking.
We’re not really here to talk about that song, but it’s one of those which reversed the guitar solo, those who have the album will know what I mean. Take a look and listen HERE.
Grace Kelly as Margot in the Hitchcock movie, is of course impressive, but Diana in this stage role is equally so.
The fact they’ve shifted the story into the 60s means they can be a little more ‘racy’ dare we say? You can certainly see why Max is paying her so much attention.
In fact Diana shared a dressing room tweet recently which will help you understand what I mean.
Having said all that, Dial M is still the Frederick Knott original story we know and love. The plot, tension and the dark humour are all still there. The cast are first rate and deliver a great performance, which will keep you thoroughly entertained for the 2 hours it runs.
If you’re looking for a night out, away from a freezing cold field this week, I can guarantee you’ll get all the fireworks you need at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
To find out more, watch our interview with the charming Tom Chambers, you’ll also find performance times and ticket details. Head to our feature here DIAL M.
