The telephone rings, trilling through the darkened living room three, four, five times. The bedroom light flicks on, illuminating the telephone and the desk it rests upon. A woman appears, yawning, in her dressing gown.
She answers the phone, but no one responds. “Hello?” she says again, looking at the handset in confusion. It’s in that moment she feels fabric tightening around her neck as she is shoved onto the desk, fighting for air …
“Dial M for Murder”, presented by Galleon Theatre Group, is not only a beautiful demonstration of inner turmoil, but simplicity on stage. Everything from the set design to the costumes is simple, elegant, and beautifully complementary. The set has been expertly crafted to enhance the impact the lighting has on key moments within the story. Key moments which have also been carefully paired with a spine-tingling score to set your nerves jangling.
Not only will your nerves be frayed, but you can expect to find yourself holding your breath in anticipation more than once, wondering “how on earth will they will get away with this?”
With a small cast of five you expect the chemistry to be high-quality, and the cast from Galleon Theatre do not let down their audience for a moment. With heartfelt confessions, scheming, dastardly deeds, and inquisitive inspectors, no interaction felt unhurried or unconsidered. Each moment was carefully plotted from the facial expressions to the smooth, natural use of the entire stage.
The stage, which has a distinct air of being its own character, is deceptively simple at first glance, but after some observation has clearly been well curated, not just for the performance but also for the actors. The set feels cohesive and lived in, just like the flat of a married couple should.
Be sure to keep your eye on this married couple, for their body language and voice control are expertly maintained … until they’re not. Dressed impeccably, and with barely a hair out place, Mr. and Mrs. Wendice navigate the new twist their marriage has undertaken, while a desperate Mr. Halliday and the calculating Inspector Hubbard do their utmost to make sense of how the slimy Captain Lesgate fits into the story. Be sure to watch the costumes carefully, each one perfectly suited for their character, and even being used as a plot point … The audience will find themselves on the edge of their seat to see if the good guys will prevail and the bad guys will get what’s coming to them, with laughs, gasps, and sinking feelings along the way.
To book tickets to Dial M for Murder, please visit https://www.galleon.org.au/html/dialMForMurder.html.
