"Dial 'M' For Murder"

August 2005
THE MINSTREL PLAYERS PRESENT THE DEVILISHLY CLEVER PLAY "DIAL 'M' FOR MURDER" 

WRITTEN BY FREDERICK KNOTT (WAIT UNTIL DARK) AND DIRECTED BY RESIDENT MINSTREL KNOTT DIRECTOR TOM WILLIAMS AT HOUGHTON HALL THEATRE. 

The Minstrel Players Theatre Company of Northport prepare for their fall production of Frederick Knott's classic thriller, "Dial 'M' For Murder". Performances begin on October 29 and run through November 13 at Houghton Hall Theatre at Trinity Episcopal Church, 130 Main Street in scenic Northport Village. Performances will take place on Saturdays, October 29th & November 5th and 12th at 8 P.M. and Sundays, October 30th & November 6th and 13th at 3 P.M. The performance on Saturday, November 5th will be a special Dinner Theatre production with dinner beginning at 630PM.

The Minstrel Players are fresh off their critically acclaimed staging of "Crossing Delancey" seen here in August. "Dial 'M' For Murder" features the directorial return of Tom Williams, who directed last fall's production of "Wait Until Dark". The cast features a host of newcomers to the Minstrel family as well as a few regulars: Ray Palen (Tony Wendice), Toni Caracci (Margot Wendice), Jim Thomas (Inspector Hubbard), Raj Belani (Max Halladay) and Tom Williams (Captain Lesgate) represent the principals in this production. "Dial 'M' For Murder" debuted on the London Stage in June, 1952. Many fans will recall the famous film adaptation of 1954 starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Story synopsis: Tony Wendice has married his wife, Margot, for her money and now plans to murder her for the same reason. He arranges the perfect murder. He blackmails a scoundrel he used to know into strangling her for a fee of 1,000 pound, and arranges a brilliant alibi for himself. Unfortunately…the murderer gets murdered and the victim survives. But this doesn't baffle the husband: he sees his hireling's death as an opportunity to have his wife convicted for the murder of the man who tried to murder her. Whether or not Tony gets away with the "perfect murder" is determined by how quickly Inspector Hubbard and Max Halladay (Margot's former lover) can put together the facts to save her from execution. What transpires provides some of the most thrilling moments ever seen on stage and is sure to hold the audience "spellbound" as they witness firsthand Tony's web of deceit. 

The Minstrel Players are committed to bringing "World Class", affordable theater to the Long Island Region. Tickets are $14.00 each and $12.00 for Seniors. Opening Night special features all seats at $10 each. Dinner Theatre tickets are $30 each. For more information please call (800)260-2390 or (631)754-4246. You may also visit the Minstrel Player's official website at www.minstrelplayers.org. Hope to see you at the show!

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October 2005

November 2005
Posted on Deb's Web
ONE PERSON'S (RE)VIEW

From D. Joseph Gleason

I was also among the audience in the Minstrel Players
production of "Dial M for Murder". The cast and delivery
were fantastic. Once the lights went out, you were caught
up in the plot waiting to see how this mystery was going
to eventually be solved. You need to see the show to 
appreciate the methodology of great crime solving (C.S.I.
look out!!). The set was so well designed, I felt like I 
was in an actual apartment. Hats off to the cast.

Jim Connors at Dial M

The Minstrel Players of Northport are current performing
the suspense thriller Dial M For Murder. This play was 
written by Frederick Knott, who also penned another famous
thriller, Wait Until Dark. Dial M For Murder enjoyed stage
and film success in the 1950's. The 1954 film version was 
directed by Alfred Hitchcock and Starred Ray Milland and 
Grace Kelly. I saw the play on Sunday October 30th. The 
acting is solid. Minstrel Founder Ray Palen is appropriately 
sleazy as Tony. Broadhollow regular Toni Caracci is well 
cast as Margot. Tom Williams (who also directed) is effective 
as blackmail victim Captain Lesgate. Raj Belani does a nice 
turn as Max and Jim Thomas does a good job as dogged Inspector 
Hubbard. The impressive set was constructed by Dennis Dudley, 
who makes a brief stage appearance as Officer Thompson. For 
an enjoyable 2 hours of theatre, I recommend that you check 
out this production. It is being performed at Trinity 
Episcopal Church, located on 130 Main Street in Northport, 
N.Y. Remaining performances are November 5th and 12th at 
8:00 pm and November 6th and 13th at 3:00 pm. Tickets are 
$14.00 except for November 5th, which is a special dinner 
theatre production for $30.00. Please call 516-764-4246 to 
reserve tickets or for additional information.