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Theater Review
Dial M for Murder
BY SANDI CARROLL
Community Editor, The Observer

Dial M for Murder, by Frederick Knott, opened to a full house at the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach on Oct. 26, 2001. Audience members were enthralled by this tale of what can happen when a man marries for money and then plans to murder his wife for the same reason.

Dan Blazi does a terrific job playing Tony Wendice, a former playboy tennis pro, who has planned the perfect murder of his wealthy wife. Judi Szeiler is excellent as Margot Wendice, a wealthy socialite, who had an affair with Max Halliday, an American writer, and then broke it off. Halliday, played by the very talented Spencer Meehl, has returned to London and has contacted Margot. He is still in love with her.

Tony, sensing a threat to his financial security, blackmails Captain Lesgate, played by Greg Harris, an old college chum with an unsavory past, into strangling Margot for a fee. Harris, who previously appeared in "The 1940s Radio Hour," is quite convincing as the disreputable Lesgate.

Tony then arranges a perfect alibi for himself by inviting Max out to a club, while Margot stays home at Tony's urging to work on "his clippings." Margo retires for the night and is attacked by Lesgate when she gets up to answer the phone. She is able to defend herself as he is strangling her by grabbing the pair of scissors she was using earlier in the evening and stabbing him. Lesgate falls on the scissors and dies.

Tony, who is the caller, tells Margot not to talk to anyone, and then rushes home to see if he can salvage his plan. He comes up with a new plan - to get his wife convicted of Lesgate's murder.

Inspector Hubbard, played by veteran actor Dave O'Keeffe, who is perfect in this role, arrives on the scene, and the plot twists and turns as it makes its way to a suspenseful and surprise ending.

Michael Shea, making his first LT appearance plays an annoying reporter and provides various voices. His son, Ryan Shea, a student at New Smyrna Beach High School plays Officer Thompson. Good job and welcome to the Little Theatre.

Neil Griffin, veteran Little Theatre actor, makes his directorial debut with Dial M for Murder. He has done a wonderful job directing this talented cast and the resulting production is a "must see."

Maxine Blazi is stage manager. Bill Roehrborn is the technical director and Mary Monnier is set decorator. Camille Dickinson is in charge of props, Rose Dingas handles costumes and Diane Christian, handles lights and sound.

Copyright © 2001 the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach, Inc.