Weathervane Playhouse’s ‘Dial M For Murder’ is a who done it masterpiece

Photo By Dale Dong

My father-in-law worked most of his life in law enforcement in the Sheriff's Department. Whenever we would visit the subject of criminology would often come up. Ted’s belief was that most criminals were just plain stupid or deep down just wanted to be caught. They would do stupid things like brag to family and friends about their crime (who would rat on them), start spending ill-gotten gains the day after the crime, or leave vital clues at the scene of the crime.

Ted admitted that it was not really great crime solving ability on their part unless you consider them finding the clues that were quite plainly right in front of their faces. Case in point is the dramatic play “Dial M For Murder” now on stage at Weathervane Playhouse in Akron.

The play began in 1952 as part of a BBC TV crime drama series as the 12th episode during the third season of the show “Sunday Night Theatre” that aired on March 23rd. Taken from a play by Frederick Knott it was later performed in London’s West End in June of 1952 then adapted as a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1954.

Tony Wendice (Mason P. Shuman) is a playboy globe trotting tennis player who is married to Margot (Amanda Davis-Vigneault), mainly for her money. He has recently given up tennis and now works selling sports equipment. His long suffering wife grew tired of the travel and long absences of her husband and had an affair with Max Halliday (Scott Crim) who is a scriptwriter for a weekly American crime television show. When Tony retired from tennis, Margot and Max broke off their affair with Max returning to the United States for a year.

Over time there was a collection of love letters between the two but now that Max has returned to London, Margot informs him that she burned all of the letters save one but that letter had been stolen. The blackmailer had demanded £50 which Margot sent to an out of town pawn shop. Not receiving the letter back as promised, Margot traveled to the pawn shop only to find that the money was never picked up. Max wants to admit the affair to Tony so that he will divorce his wife. Margot refuses because of her love for her husband as he has changed in the past year.

In reality, Tony is quietly scheming her murder by putting aside £1,000 in small used notes over the year. He is in fact the one who stole the letter and is still in possession of it and had witnessed Margot and Max having a romantic farewell dinner. As part of his scheme to kill his wife he contacts a former Cambridge school mate, Charles Alexander Swann who now calls himself Captain Lesgate and who has a nefarious history of petty crime. On the pretense of buying a car from Lesgate he invites the man to the flat when Margot is away. Tony confronts Lesgate with his criminal past and the two hatch a murder scheme.

Tony plans to take Max to a stag affair leaving Margot alone in the apartment working on his scrapbook of news clippings. He steals Margot’s key (of which only two exist) leaving it under a carpeted step outside their flat. He then plans to call Margot at 11:00 p.m. in order to get her to the phone in the living area. The plan is for Lesgate to break in and hide behind the curtains then attack Margot from behind. All goes as planned until a desperate Margot counter attacks by stabbing Lesgate in the leg with her oversize sewing scissors that she had left on the desk. Lesgate stumbles back and Margot seeing her advantage stabs the man in the back killing him instantly.

Still on the phone, Tony tells Margot not to touch anything and returns to the flat in short order. He sequesters Margot to the bedroom to calm her down while he arranges evidence that will implement Margot for the murder. She is duly convicted and it has come to her execution being scheduled for the very next day. Lucky for her, Inspector Hubbard (Mitch Manthey), the original detective for the case, has never been convinced of Margot’s guilt or Tony’s innocence and sets up an elaborate trap.

Let us start with the real star of the show. That being the stage design by Alan A. Costa. This meticulously crafted Art Deco inspired set is scrumptious with loads of props (via Patti Alderson), furniture and art work that many in the audience wished they could move into today. Most notable are the huge front doors and bedroom door. Wittman Sullivan’s lighting design alternates from light and airy to downright sinister when required setting the proper mood (with appropriate gasps from the audience members. Jasen J. Smith has dressed the actors in a variety of period pieces that show off the glamour of the era. The entire show is intriguingly and expertly directed by Fred Gloor who keeps the pace moving rapidly through the three short acts with two intermissions.

As for the actors, Amanda Davis-Vigneault as Margot does a fine turn as the guilty (but not as guilty as her husband) wife who in the end triumphs over incredible odds. From elegant hostess to screaming convicted murderer she manages to portray all of the needed emotions needed for the part. Mason P. Shuman as Tony, the scheming smarmy husband is perfect in his roll. Switching from devoted spouse to murderous conniver at the drop of a hat there is no secret as to his intent. Scott Crim as Max is the unwitting hero come to rescue the damsel. While he has the knowledge that fowl play has occurred he is not sure of the details. This is left to Mitch Manthey as Inspector Hubbard who pieces the bits of obscure evidence in order to save the day. Lastly, there is Kenneth Young as the hapless Captain Lesgate (aka Swann) who is rewarded with a scissors to the back for all his trouble. Mention also needs to be made of the various minor characters that include Allison Thomas as the reporter, Paul Means as the Police Officer/O’Brien, Matthew Allport as Pendleton/Thompson, Benjamin Neiberlein as Roger/Williams and Irwin Shires as the Radio Announcer.

If you have never seen the movie or play before then you are in for a treat. The great stage set, costuming, accents and acting are all top notch. It is also brilliant the manner of breaking up the show into three short acts with two intermissions so as to give the audience a break. BRAVO all the way! If you have seen it before, it is time to see it once more.

The Weathervane Playhouse production of “Dial M For Murder” will be on stage at 1301 Weathervane lane in Akron, Ohio through May 18, 2025. For more information and to order tickets go to http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com or call (330) 836-2626.