We come to DIAL M FOR MURDER as ready made fans, not only of the original 1950s classic Alfred Hitchcock movie, but several productions we’ve seen along the way.
What is so good about this whodunit is that it isn’t really a whodunit at all – we know who is ‘doing it‘ from the start, which is also the premise for the plot.
We could tell you straight away who the perpetrator is and it wouldn’t spoil the story at all, something the Director Anthony Banks said recently……
”Fans of the thriller genre will be surprised by its unique twist. It’s the opposite of a whodunnit because we know who’s gonna do it from the beginning,”
“This is not a play where you can hear the characters thinking. They have the thought and they do it, and that’s really quite modern. Given the success of Tarantino’s films and Killing Eve on television, I think there’s a real appetite for this kind of storytelling.”
And if anybody understands this it’s Anthony.
You may well have caught his production of Girl On The Train when it was at the New Theatre a couple of years ago – remember those days pre-covid?
The main character and ‘bad guy’ if you like, is Tony Wendice, a former tennis pro who finds out his wife Margot is having an affair. He then blackmails an old university pal into doing the horrible deed for him.
The problem is, Tony is charming and charismatic, and played perfectly by TOM CHAMBERS who you may well have seen on his TV journey to the stage (Holby & Strictly) he was also really good in a revival of Top Hat a few years ago.
We spoke on Zoom to Tom on a rare day off (thanks Tom) and had a long chat about the show, his love of live theatre, Casualty (filmed in Wales) and of course we couldn’t leave out Strictly, which he won a few years ago.
First of all though, Tom revealed his love of South Wales and a little bolt-hole he enjoys in Tenby.
TOM CHAMBERS TALKS TO SOUTH WALES LIFE
Margot is played by DIANA VICKERS, who you may also know from TV. She was in the 2004 series of X Factor and famously missed the week five show after damaging her vocal chords. She returned the following week, did a blinding performance of Coldplay’s YELLOW (watch that moment here), and subsequently received the most votes cast that evening.
Diana has absolutely found her place on the theatre stage. In 2009, she won the title role in the West End revival of Jim Cartwright’s “The Rise and Fall of Little Voice”. The following year she was named the winner of the “London Newcomer of the Year” award at the Theatregoers’ Choice Awards.
CHRISTOPHER HARPER is also starring in this production, and fans of those famous cobbled streets, played Nathan Curtis, the creepy character who was fixated on Bethany. He was so good in that role and equally impressive in this production.
And finally, the cast is complete with MICHAEL SALAMI. Michael is a screen nation award winning actor. Born in America but raised in London, Salami has been acting since the tender age of 11. Throughout his career he has worked along side award winning writers, directors and actors. He also landed himself a role in TV favourite Hollyoaks.
Although the original movie of Dial M was made in the 1950s Anthony has set this production in 1963
“It feels contemporary, because furniture shops now are full of Sputnik lamps with balls shooting out of them, L-shaped sofas and 60s-style patterns on curtains and upholstery, plus suits and dresses have a very 60s cut.”
Whenever the story is set it asks the simple question. Can you ever get away with the perfect crime? Dial M for Murder is the definitive seat-gripping drama that is not to be missed!
It gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff next week from tomorrow Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th November. Performances are at 7:30pm with 2:30pm matinees on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Tickets are priced from £15 to £33, depending on which day you go and when you sit. You can get yours right HERE.
We’ll be at the show on Tuesday and will bring you our review later that night.
