Dial M For Murder🩸

Dial M for Murder is a masterfully crafted suspense novel written by the English playwright and screenwriter Frederick Major Paull Knott. Renowned for his elaborate crime plots, Knott skillfully keeps the readers intertwined with his gripping narrative, filled with suspense and intrigue throughout the novel. Add one of the greatest cinematic adaptation legends, Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most influential figures in cinematic history, and you get to see the making of one of the greatest classics ever written and produced. So, following in the footsteps of this epic classic and making it a play should be a hit if you follow its successful blueprint. Still, director Adam Immerwahr made a few changes to this original masterpiece, which could have been devastating to Drury Lane's seasonal audience. Did he accomplish his goal? To put any doubts to rest... absolutely, he did! I'm not a fan of changing classic masterpieces, as I'm more of an "if it's good, stick with it," "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," philosophy. The play makes a few changes, seemingly to bring it into our current mindset of relationships, without removing the themes of betrayal, greed, deceitful manipulation, and this thrilling suspense.  

This classic murder mystery, Dial M For Murder, has Tony Wendice as a tennis player who conceives a plan to murder his wealthy wife, Margot, who he discovers is having an affair with a gentleman named Mark Halliday, an American crime-fiction writer. The play evolves into a more contemporary narrative. In 2022, writer Jeffrey Hatcher adapted the play for the stage, making a significant change by casting Margot's lover as a woman, Maxine Hadley. His goal was to modernize the story and raise awareness by changing the gender of the lover from a man, Max, to a woman, Maxine Hadley. This shift allowed for a more complex exploration of a secret same-sex relationship in the 1950s, a time when such relationships were highly stigmatized, criminalized, and subject to government persecution. Changes were also made to Tony's character, making him a former writer, whose dreams of fame have faltered, now confined to the corporate world of a publishing company. Ironically, he oversees Maxime's book deal, handling its design and marketing while plotting his wife's demise. Did these new character twists amplify the suspense or highlight the dramatic irony of a man plotting his wife's demise while simultaneously aiding her lover in achieving literary success? Not really, but it doesn't hurt it either. With a few insignificant changes, it still follows the script with each actor providing excellent performances.

I've been impressed by the growth I've seen in Erik Hellman throughout the years, as I've seen him perform at numerous theaters here in Chicago. Hellman delivers a mesmerizing performance as the cunning and sinister Tony Wendice, capturing the character's diabolical essence. The lovely and spirited exchanges between Amanda Drinkall, who I enjoyed in her portrayal of Blanche in Paramount Theatre's A Streetcar Named Desire, and Alexandra Silber, who delivers a remarkable performance as Maxine Hadley, offered an invigorating glimpse into the evolution of societal dynamics while maintaining the gripping dialogue of the original storyline. Their chemistry on stage not only highlighted the progress we've made over the years but also underscored the timeless power of the story itself. Topping off the cast is American Blues actor Ian Paul Custer and Jonathan Weir, as Captain Lesgate and Inspector Hubbard.

And speaking of changing to the script, the magic continues, as Drury Lane Theatre has been updated. Entering their 77th season, they have made some exciting new improvements with new seating and carpeting. From August 4 to November 24, Drury will enhance your visual and hearing comfort while introducing a new ticketing platform called Audience View. Upon first entering the theatre, you are greeted by the beautiful new carpeting, and I was immediately struck by how much I loved the new seats and the additional space they offered. However, I also noticed that I had to slightly extend my neck to catch a clear view over the person sitting directly in front of me, and others told me they had to peek left or right to see over others continuously. Overall, the changes enhance the experience and will bring decades of comfort to its seasoned audience.

⭐⭐⭐1/2 STARS

Drury Lane Theatre

Dial M For Murder

A New Adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher

From the original by Frederick Knott

Directed by Adam Immerwahr

September 3 - October 26, 2025

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