By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – What does it take to plan the perfect murder? Come find out when the Two River Theater presents “Dial M for Murder” from Feb. 15 to March 9. This fast-paced thriller, which inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 film of the same name, will keep you on the edge of your seat!
The story, set in the late 1950s, involves Tony, a retired tennis player, who discovers his beautiful and very wealthy wife Margot has been unfaithful. Tony hatches a detailed plot to kill her and inherit her fortune. But will the murder go as planned? In an updated twist, playwright Jeffrey Hatcher (“Scotland Road,” “Wait Until Dark”) adapted Frederick Knott’s original script and changed Margot’s male lover Max to a female Maxine. At that time in history, a homosexual relationship was not only scandalous but was against the law.
“You know people did this in the ’50s, but it was a lot scarier,” said Olivia Gilliatt, who plays Margot. “It really changes the landscape of the play. It’s a lot more challenging and a lot more fun. It’s pretty juicy!”
Gilliatt (“Partnership,” “A Vigilante”) has worked with director and Drama Desk Award nominee Jenn Thompson before and was thrilled to revisit the role of Margot, which she also played at the Bucks County Playhouse.
“Jenn is such a subtle and smart director,” said Gilliatt. “She knows how to weave all the threads together.”
Two River Theater Artistic Director Justin Waldman said the show has it all – thrills, intrigue and endless style.
“This edge-of-your-seat, Hitchcock-ian cat-and-mouse game weaves a web of suspicion over every wave of a cigarette or sip of a cocktail,” he said. “Jeffrey Hatcher’s singular new version injects suspenseful layers of deception into one of noir’s greatest murder mysteries. With the extraordinary director Jenn Thompson at the helm, ‘Dial M’ promises to be equal parts chic and chilling.”
The “chic” refers to the gorgeous mid-century outfits, courtesy of costume designer Jess Goldstein. Keeping in mind that the glamorous Grace Kelly starred in the film, he wanted the clothing to live up to the elegant ’50s style outfits she was known for.
“Grace Kelly wears this gorgeous red dress in the movie that I was very influenced by,” said Goldstein. “The two women wear very beautiful clothes. The men are more enhanced in these handsome suits from the period, hopefully making the characters more intriguing and engaging.”
Gilliatt jokingly said that she first got into acting for the clothes.
“They were kicking it in the ’50s,” she said. “It was a gorgeous, post-war period and the clothes were very sumptuous for those who had the means. People would dress for dinner – the men in a tux and the women with a hat, gloves and crinoline.”
The cast also includes Robert Eli (“Tartuffe,” “Saturn Returns”) as Lesgate; Tony Roach (“Flying Over Sunset,” “My Fair Lady”) as Tony Wendice; Triney Sandoval (Two River’s “The Scarlet Letter,” “Bernhardt/Hamlet”) as Inspector Hubbard; and Jasmin Walker (“Avenue Q,” “Jesus Christ Superstar”) as Maxine.
The creative team includes scenic designer Wilson Chin, lighting designer Phillip Rosenberg, sound designer and composer Jane Shaw and hair, makeup and wig designers J. Jared Janas and Sarah Norton. Gerry Rodriguez served as the fight coordinator.
“There is one massive instance of violence,” said Gilliatt. “I’ve done a lot of stage combat and I love executing those scenes. It’s kind of like dancing. The hardest part is to go slowly and deliberately enough because the audience is seeing it for the first time.”
Ticket prices range from $50 to $80 with discounts are available for seniors, students, military, groups and patrons under 35. For more information, visit www.tworivertheater.org.
The article originally appeared in the February 6 – 12, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.