3 STARS, 20-24 June. A ‘perfect’ murder devilishly delivered by Windsor’s own summer repertory company, bringing to life Frederick Knott’s classic Dial M for Murder
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From the outset the play settles into a tightrope walk between cosiness and something rather more sinister. The setting is intimate and the opening leaves the audience feeling that it is almost eavesdropping on a conversation between Sheila (Sarah Dungworth) and Max (Mark Jardine). It isn’t long before it’s clear that all is not as it seems as the relationship between Sheila and Max unfolds. A tale of double-crossing, blackmail, lies and intrigue slowly unravels across the three acts, punctuated by some clever twists and… a murder (no spoilers).
The ingredients are all here for a crime that would have Miss Marple rubbing her hands with glee: a young, confused wife; a devoted yet hapless ex-lover; a conceited husband; a rogue and, naturally, a police officer. Although these may seem like somewhat two-dimensional clichés, they are fleshed out admirably by a competent cast with Stanley Eldridge bringing real verve and panache to the role of Tony and Liam Nooney avoiding stereotype by underplaying what could be a stock villain in Captain Lesgate.
Made famous by Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock’s film version and later by Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1998 film A Perfect Murder, Dial M for Murder started life as a television play in 1951 before becoming a stage play. The language oozes 1950s style and Pat Hobday’s costumes help encapsulate the era at a glance. It is an ideal vehicle for a repertory company with its single scene setting and small, but perfectly formed cast, and so it is hardly surprising that the Windsor Repertory Festival kicked off with this as the first show in its three week run.
Repertory theatre allows actors, directors and all of the creative team to concoct real treats for their audience, and it offers the audience an increasingly rare chance to buy into a theatrical community on its doorstep. All of the actors in this production will have a hand in the next two shows in the season be it acting, stage-managing or simply putting up and taking down the sets. It is exciting to think that this show will morph into Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights next week before finally becoming Ladies in Lavender – and it is up to audiences to grab this opportunity with both hands and dive into these very different worlds with gusto.
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