Chloe Smith (Margot Wendice)
Written by Frederick Knott
Directed by Jon Elphick
Tempo Theatre Inc production
Belconnen Community Theatre to June 6
Reviewed by Len Power 29 May 2026
Frederick Knott’s play, Dial M For Murder, is now best known from the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name, but it was a big success on both sides of the Atlantic before Hitchcock got his hands on it.
Elements of the plot keep it firmly in the period that it was written and, in their new production, Tempo Theatre at the Belconnen Community Theatre, have wisely honoured that. This play is not a Whodunnit, rather it is a Will-He-Get-Away-With-It?
All five cast members give fine performances. Chloe Smith, as the intended murder victim turned major suspect, Margot Wendice, gives a natural, increasingly emotional performance as the legal system slowly closes around her.
Sachin Nayak as the crime-fiction writer, Max Halliday, who is also in love with Margot, gives a well-balanced performance of an amusing character who, through his determination, eventually solves the mystery but does not realize he has.
Chris McGrane, as the investigating officer, Chief Inspector Hubbard, quickly shows that he is a force to be reckoned with. McGrane plays him with strength and skill. His character’s highly complex dialogue has tripped up many an actor in the past, but McGrane handles this aspect with great confidence.
Guyren Howe plays the contract killer, Captain Lesgate, with a nicely seedy sense of a man reduced to being a criminal.
Bradley Jones is the evil Tony Wendice who instigates the plot to murder his wife. As elements of his plot change, he adds an extra level of suspense to the play with his fine performance full of unrelenting confidence, charm and dangerous intelligence.
The director, Jon Elphick keeps this heavily plotted play moving at a fine pace and has given us an entertaining and compelling production of this clever and suspenseful play.
Photo supplied by the production
This
review was first published by Canberra CityNews digital edition on 30 May 2026.
Len Power's reviews are also broadcast on Artsound FM 92.7 in the ‘Arts Cafe’ and ‘Arts About’ programs and published in his blog 'Just Power Writing' at https://justpowerwriting.blogspot.com/.
