“Dial M For Murder” reviewed by Amy Menzel ( Milwaukee)

**** The Milwaukee Rep has given theater-goers another gift this season – this time it’s Dial M for Murder, playwright Jeffrey Hatcher’s fresh take on the classic made famous by the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film. Director Laura Braza takes the helm for this production and creates titillating theater noir with scenic design by Arnold Bueso, lighting design by Rachel Levy, and sound design and composition by André Pluess.

The atmosphere is compelling even before the house lights dim. And once they do, the action begins immediately. Tension builds deliberately and with a sense of urgency as a story of secrets, betrayal, and blackmail is unveiled. Such sinister games are intensified by characters who prove to be quite evenly matched. Don’t count any one of them out until the final curtain – and don’t be surprised if you find yourself or those around you exclaiming your, well, surprise. Collective gasps abound at every twist and turn of this murder-for-hire plot gone wrong.

The Rep has, once again, cast a strong company to take the Quadracci Powerhouse stage. Amanda Drinkall, whose TV credits include The Mayor of Kingstown and Chicago Med, plays a socialite with a secret who is married to a vengeful gold-digger played by Marcus Truschinski, a member of American Players Theatre’s Core Acting Company. Two-time Joseph Jefferson Award winner Alex Weisman plays a conman susceptible to being conned himself. Actor and voice actor Lipica Shah, whose resume of stage, screen, and audio credits is as impressive as it is extensive, brings depth to the role of murder mystery writer soon caught in the middle of a real murder mystery. And veteran Milwaukee actor Jonathan Wainwright returns to the stage to inquire and interrogate as the investigator assigned to the case.

Saturday’s matinee audience was in and you will be too. You might dial ‘M’ for murder. I’ll leave with ‘G’ for Get your tickets and Go see this show.

★★★★

Dial M for Murder plays now through December 17. The show runs 2 hours and 10 minutes and includes one intermission (during which you might grab a show-themed cocktail at the bar or do some holiday shopping at the gift store in the lobby).

Saturdays – 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 21 – 6:30 p.m. / Tuesday, December 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Thursdays – 7:30 p.m. (no show Thursday, November 23)
Wednesday matinees November 29, December 6 – 1:30 p.m.
Fridays – 8 p.m.

Special dates include:
Audio-Described Performance – Tuesday, November 21 @ 6:30 p.m.
Bus Matinee Performance – Wednesday, November 29 @ 1:30 p.m.
ASL Performance – Thursday, December 7 @ 7:30 p.m.
Captioned Performance – Sunday, December 10 @ 2 p.m.

Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online at milwaukeerep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490, or in-person at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.