By SHARON EBERSON
Pittsburgh Public Theater opens its 50th season with a 21st-century look at the classic thriller Dial M for Murder.
As in the original BBC teleplay and the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film, whodunit is not at issue. The question is: Will they get away with it?
Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation, with the approval of original writer Frederick Knott’s estate, had its first showing in 2022, at San Diego’s Old Globe. For the Pittsburgh Public production, director Céline Rosenthal reunites with star Brooke Turner – in the Grace Kelly film role off Margot Wendice – after a production earlier this year at Florida’s Asolo Rep.
In the Hatcher play, Margot is being blackmailed with a love letter from her former lover, Maxine (Shannon Williams), that went missing after their affair ended. Margot has believed that her husband Tony (Josh Innerst) is none the wiser, but she is mistaken, and Tony has vengeance in mind.
Williams, out of Point Park University, made her professional debut with barebones productions in Is God Is, and recently performed with City Theatre in their annual Young Playwright’s Festival. The cast also includes Pittsburgh actors Michael Trimm as Lesgate and Ken Bolden as Inspector Hubbard.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of Dial M for Murder is at the O’Reilly Theater, Downtown, September 11-29, 2024. Tickets: visit https://ppt.org/production/94310/dial-m-for-murder or call 412-316-1600.
EVENTS AND PATRON SERVICES
WINE WEDNESDAYS: Patrons are invited to enjoy handpicked fare from Dreadnought Wines in a curated tasting series. ($15 + show ticket; September 11 at 5:30 p.m. for Dial M for Murder.)
THEATER ON TAP: Attendees are guided through a sampling of Barrel & Flow Fest collaborations. ($15 + show ticket; September 13 at 6 p.m. for Dial M for Murder.)
COMING SOON – SITTER SUNDAYS: Pittsburgh Public Theater, echoing an initiative by Pittsburgh CLO, will offer childcare for all ages during select Sunday matinees (September 22 to start). In partnership with Jovie of Pittsburgh, the service will be available for patrons via reservation during a ticket purchase or as an add-on to previous purchases. ($20 per child + show ticket; visit PPT.org/Sitter for more information.)
CAST Q&A’s: Visit PPT.org/SpecialEvents for more information.
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