‘Dial M For Murder‘, brings Frederick Knott’s classic thriller into the 21st century while capturing passions that have deep throughout human history.
(lt to rt) Tony (Angel Correa), Margot (Brooke Lewis Cruz) and Max (Mark Tillman) star in ‘Dial M For Murder‘ at NTAC. Photo by Sarah Whitwell.
Opening night at the Newport Theatre Arts Center (NTAC) brought a deliciously pulpy take on Frederick Knott’s classic thriller, ‘Dial M For Murder‘, directed by David Rodriguez. Leaning into a noir-inspired aesthetic reminiscent of ‘The Shadow‘ radio dramas, this production fully embraced theatricality, giving the audience not just a mystery to unravel, but a heightened world of morally gray characters dancing on the edge of disaster.
During the gala, I spoke with Angel Correa, who plays jilted husband, Tony Wendice. A man who gave up his tennis career only to find out his wife has taken on a tv mystery writer. Correa’s Tony is tightly-wound up and his plot is almost foolproof, making him a an understandably, morally compromised, figure.
Opposite him, Brooke Lewis Cruz’s Margo Wendice may be morally compromised like the men around her, but Cruz’s performance shows genuine remorse, making her the most emotionally accessible character on stage. Her dynamic with Max Halliday, played by Mark Tillman, felt lived-in, no doubt helped by their previous work together, along with Correa at the Costa Mesa Playhouse in, ‘Uncle Vanya'(Costa Mesa Playhouse’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ Modernizes a Russian Classic – Review).
Scott Keister as Captain Lesgate offered a delightfully slippery portrayal of the classic patsy, adding a dash of vulnerability that made his fate all the more compelling. I had seen Keister before in The Nether at Golden West College (‘The Nether’ At GWC is an Uncomfortable yet Enthralling Performance – Review), and he continues to impress with his nuanced character work. Lesgate becomes the patsy as avoiding blackmail is his driving factor.
Max (Mark Tillman) and Inspector Hubbard (Maxfield Lund) star in ‘Dial M For Murder‘ at NTAC. Photo by Sarah Whitwell.
Stealing more than a few scenes was Maxfield Lund as Inspector Hubbard. His endearingly bumbling, Columbo-esque detective was a crowd favorite, eliciting more than a few laughs from the audience. Lund’s comedic timing and dogged persistence lent the investigation an unorthodox but charming quality, culminating in a satisfying unraveling of the plot’s tangled threads.
Knott’s script demonstrations a masterful skill in bringing to life suspense and moral ambiguity. The characters aren’t heroes or villains in the traditional sense; they’re flawed people making increasingly poor choices driven by their passions. It’s the kind of story where you can’t help but almost finding yourself wishing the who-done-it, got-away-with-it. Especially as I reflected on a real-life friend who found himself nearly entangled in a similarly complex romantic and professional situation. Thankfully, real life resolved with my friend throwing his arms up and walking away, but Knott’s world is far more thrilling for its dangerous stakes.
Behind the scenes, the show was stitched together beautifully. Stage Manager Stan Brown kept the flow tight and seamless, while Joshua Serrano’s work in the tech booth, particularly with sound and music, punched up the tension at just the right moments. The visual design, courtesy of Michael Corcoran, Leslye Wanthal, and costume designers Jenny Wentworth and Cliff Senior, effectively transported the audience to the early 1950s. Producer and props director Bob Fetes shared a humorous anecdote with me: “They chose pink? Do you know how hard it was to find 1950s furniture, let alone to match with pink walls?” The result, with a big thanks to producer, Kristina Anderson’s belief in the project, was nothing short of captivating. ‘Dial M For Murder‘ a time capsule dripping with mood and period charm that will always be relevant 80 years later.
‘Dial M For Murder‘ runs from now through July 20, 2025 at the Newport Theatre Arts Center.
To purchase tickets for ‘Dial M For Murder‘ visit https://www.ntactickets.com/.
Newport Theatre Arts Center is located at:
2501 Cliff Dr’
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Summary
‘Dial M For Murder‘ at NTAC is both homage and reinvention; a faithful thriller laced with a pulp sensibility that keeps it fresh and fun. A night at the theatre that satisfies lovers of classic mysteries, noir, and those who appreciate a really good bad guy.
