Review: Dial M for Murder brings a wicked plot to Harrogate Theatre

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One phone call. One perfect plan. One fatal mistake. That's the premise of Dial M for Murder, Frederick Knott's classic play now showing at Harrogate Theatre.

The two-act play is set in London in 1952, featuring professional tennis player Tony Wendice (Pete Ashmore) along with his wealthy socialite wife, Margot Wendice (Tanya-Loretta Dee), who is secretly having an affair with American crime-fiction writer Max Halliday (Simon Pothecary). 

With suspicions that his wife is being unfaithful, Mr Wendice plots his wife's murder with old school friend Captain Lesgate.

The play is a murder mystery with added comedy, making it family-friendly. That said, the dialogue can appear a little heavy at times, but the cast, whose experience extends to shows including The Crown, EastEnders and Peaky Blinders, make it easy to keep up.

Act one is at times confusing, and it can be hard to tell which day or night we're following. It opens with Mrs Wendice and Mr Halliday coming in laughing, but once Mr Wendice returns, they leave again for another night.

It feels rushed, and the timeline could be made clearer.

Act two is much easier to follow, and gives the audience plenty of time to trace the plot.

With one set through the whole show, the actors are limited for props, but their tone of voice and strong body language are more than enough to drive the action and keep the audience enthralled.

Dial M for Murder is running at Harrogate Theatre until September 12.