A Nice Guy Plays An Evil Role At Hackmatack's DIAL M FOR MURDER

Gee whiz, Bretton Reis is such a nice guy. Ask anyone. But watch him in "Dial M for Murder" on the Hackmatack Playhouse stage in Berwick for the next three weeks and you will see the epitome of evil in a character willing to do anything to get 90,000 pounds, including kill his wife.

Although the 30-year-old Reis is entirely and believably immersed in being a sociopath, those around him say this is completely out of character.

"I've known Brett for a few years and he is the least sociopathic person you'll meet in your life," said Director Gary Locke. "He could never be as evil as that character, which is what makes him ideal. A true sociopath hides everything so well."

"Dial M For Murder," which will be at Hackmatack through Sept. 1, is a low-key murder mystery that follows the story of Tony Wendice and the upscale woman he married for money and now plans to murder.

So how does Reis, who usually plays nice, bumbling guys, do it. He says it actually is not such a leap to take on the part of Tony in this 1954 show made famous by Alfred Hitchcock's film.

"I think like any other character he has goals and his goals are extremely specific - his wife's inheritance," said Reis. "And like any character, he has ways to getting here. His methods are just way more extreme."

Being cast in this role in fact has been a treat for Reis.

"I've been acting for 15 years and having a truly new character thrown at me, one that's radically different from all the other characters I've played is a delight," he said.

A native of Rehoboth, Mass., Reis got his theater degree at University of Vermont.He considers himself a "freelance theater artist," and loves acting, directing and design. He did the lighting and projection for Hackmatack's last show, "Bridges of Madison County" and played the part of a bumbling nice guy in "Lend Me A Tenor," which kicked off the 2018 season in June."

Both the film and stage play of "Dial M. for Murder" were written by English playwright Frederick Knott. The play premiered in 1952 on BBC Television, before it opened later that year in London's West End and then on Broadway. Two years later, the film directed by Hitchcock was released, starring Grace Kelly as Margot.

Dial M For Murder runs through Sept. 1 with shows 8 pm Wed. to Sat. and 2 pm on Thursdays Aug. 16, 23 and 30. For more information, go to www.hackmatack.org or call 207-698-1807.