DIAL M FOR MURDER To Open in Black and White

Director Gary Locke of Merrimack, NH, has long wanted to stage a play in black & white. So when the folks at Hackmatack Playhouse asked him to direct "Dial M for Murder," he saw this as his opportunity.

Fortunately, the folks at Hackmatack like the idea of taking this stage remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film and giving it a cinematic touch when it opens on the Berwick stage Wednesday, Aug. 15.

"The people at Hackmatack absolutely embraced the idea of trying to capture that 1940s film noir feel," said Locke. "They were gung ho, which delighted me to no end."

As a result, "Dial M for Murder" will open with costumes, makeup, props, and scenery largely in black and white.
?"It will have that film noir lighting, that staid lighting with light that accentuates all the shadows," said Locke, who was, unsurprisingly, a film major in college.

This low-key murder mystery tells the story of Tony Wendice, who married an upscale woman named Margot for her money and now plans to murder her for money. He blackmails someone he knows into carrying out the murder, but things do not go as planned.

Both the film and stage play 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.

In the Hackmatack version, Margot will be played by Hackmatack's artistic director, Crystal Lisbon, who at the last minute decided to audition for the part.

"I was thrilled," said Locke. "I like Crystal as an actress and I kept leaving clues that it would be great if she auditioned."

Lisbon, a resident of Dover, will appear opposite Bretton Reis, who plays her husband Tony.

"This is the third play Bretton and I have done together, but the first time we've ever acted together," said Lisbon, who is in her fourth year as Hackmatack's artistic director. "We never had scenes together in the two previous plays, so it's been fun this time around."

As Reis, Lisbon and four other cast members rehearse for the show, they have a special still life visitor along with them, noted Locke, who appeared in the cast of "The Fantasticks" last year.

"For decades Hackmatack has had a life-size cutout of Alfred Hitchcock in the prop room," he said. "Now we've taken him at and put him in rehearsal barn with us."

Dial M For Murder opens Wednesday, Aug. 15 and 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.