SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
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Picture
REVIEW
✭✭✭☆☆ 3/5
​
Dial M For Murder
​
Palace Theatre, Southend            Box Office: 01702 351135 
Tue 9th – Sat 13th Nov            www.southendtheatres.org.uk
​DIRECTED BY ANTHONY BANKS
Well There’s no Doubt Who Dun it!

Dial M for Murder is probably best known for the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film version starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland. However, Frederick Knott’s thriller has been performed regularly by repertory companies all over the country.

This production was postponed several times, due to Covid, and some audience members had waited nearly two years to see it.  The play opens with an upmarket set conveying a flat in Maida Vale, superbly designed by David Woodhead. There are only four actors in the cast although one has to double up. Additionally, there is the use of heavy Beatles music, thunderclaps, strange noises and lighting effects to create the dramatic tension that I’m afraid is sadly lacking.

The main character a champion tennis player Tony Wendice, (Tom Chambers) wants to murder his rich wife Margot (Diana Vickers) because she’s having an affair with the crime writer Max Halliday (Michael Salami). Out of the blue, he manages to convince an old school friend, Charles Swann (Christopher Harper) to do it for him.  As usual, things go wrong and the police in the form of Inspector Hubbard (Harper doubling) gets on the case.  He discovers the truth the evening before Margot is due to be hanged.  However, I was unsure whether the actors were playing it for laughs.  Tom in particular spent most of the first half dancing around the stage, presumably to demonstrate the moves he achieved as the winner of Strictly Come Dancing. At one point, he even did some very strange and suggestive handling of one of the silver tennis trophies. Even the police inspector did some odd body moves and gestures.   As the play is a very talky one, maybe the director, Anthony Banks, was trying to bring in some movement.

If people remember the actual murder, as played by Grace Kelly in the film, they will be disappointed with the one in this production, as it isn’t very convincing at all. It was rather unbelievable. Even the boyfriend shoved against a wall by the Inspector was unconvincing, and bought some laughter.

As the mainly mature audience left the theatre, there were some bewildered looking faces. However, it was good to see people getting out and attending theatre again, the draw being a strong cast of familiar TV faces. 
​

Dial M for Murder continues at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff   until Saturday 13 November at 8 pm with Saturday Matinee 2.30pm 

Re​view Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Telephone booking -   (Mon - Sat between 10am - 6pm) 
Tel: 0343 310 0030
In person at the Box office – 2 hours prior to the start of the show- card payments only.
Online - https://southendtheatres.org.uk/online/booking-information
​The Tour continues :-


Mon, 15th November 2021 to Sat, 20th November 2021
 The Lowry, Salford 
Mon, 29th November 2021 to Sat, 4th December 2021
 Malvern Theatres, Malvern

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  • Home
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    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
    • Photographer - Kim Tobin Photography
  • LATEST
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