By Chuck Graham, TucsonStage.com
photo by Tim Fuller
For Margot (Awesta Zarif) and Tony (Dan Domingues), married life just isn't what it used to be. Then Tony discovers it could become something much worse.
Mind games aplenty fill the deftly performed, quick and clever production of Arizona Theatre Company's adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher in 2022 of Frederick Knott's early 1950s detective hit “Dial M for Murder.”
That long lineage has brought us a thoroughly reworked version to provide a satisfying evening of fresh theater – using a light touch without mentioning any of the new order of controversial culture shifts currently radicalizing our own impolite society.
Michael John Garces, the director of this finely balanced, true ensemble effort, doles out critical clues with the finesse of a master magician, surprising us at every turn with a new shuffling of his devious deck of tricks.
Chief among the cast is tall and casually stately Peter Howard as Inspector Hubbard, who hides his true intentions behind a comically eccentric manner. At first he seems barely interested in the case. Only later do we discover his mind is constantly vacuuming up tiny details which he carefully deduces into facts.
The play is set in London, 1952, with softly focused British accents all around, though we never do leave the sinister yet almost abstract living room of Tony and Margo Wendice, a stylish but threatening stage design by James Noone filled with splashes of light and unexpected sound effects, adding to the drama.
Strictly speaking, “Dial M for Murder” isn't a tale of whodunit. We see who done it early in Act One. The suspense comes from wondering how an unexpected hitch in the murderous plotting of Tony (Dan Domingues) against Margot (Awesta Zarif), his unsuspecting wife, keeps running afoul of details that won't stop squirming free of evidence being collected by the Inspector.
In a nutshell, here's the setup. Tony is a failed and desperate writer jealous that his own wife, also a writer, is very successful and, consequently, very wealthy. If only she would die so Tony could inherit her wealth.
Without remorse, Tony hires Lesgate (Aaron Cammack) to do the deed.
Completing the cast is Lucy Lavely as Maxine Hadley, the close and loyal friend of Margot. Maxine is a determined pal with a feisty spirit. She also has a few tricks up her own sleeve.
But those are just the moving parts of an intricate clockwork plot paced so skillfully, with an impressive froth of unexpected twists and turns, as each of the actors carefully times every clue, every word, to keep the tension .rising.
“Dial M for Murder” runs through Oct. 12 at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., with performances Tuesdays through Sundays. Tickets are $33-$103. For details and reservations, phone 833-ATC-SEAT (282-7328) or visit atc.org
