Discovering a spouse\u2019s affair might inspire thoughts of revenge \u2014 a premise at the heart of Frederick Knott\u2019s \u201cDial M for Murder.\u201d First staged in 1952 and later adapted into a film noir thriller by Alfred Hitchcock, the classic turns marital betrayal into a suspenseful tale of deception, blackmail and attempted murder.<\/p>\n
Now reimagined by writer Jeffrey Hatcher, Actors\u2019 Playhouse is producing a more modern adaptation of the same story. The show opened in previews Wednesday and runs through June 7 at the Miracle Mile theater.<\/p>\n
Director and Actors\u2019 Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco is a fan of the updated adaptation by Hatcher. He puts it plainly, \u201cI\u2019ll just say it: the old version is old. It\u2019s long, winded, and wordy. Jeffrey Hatcher took a look at the original text and tightened it \u2026 and then added another little twist.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Mallory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"8-1024x683.jpg\\"")
Mallory Newbrough and Daniel Llaca in \u201cDial M for Murder at Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u201d at the Miracle Theatre. (Photo by Javier Franceschi) <\/p>\n
While the twists and turns in the murder mystery play are best kept a secret, the new additions appeal to Arisco\u2019s love of what he calls \u201cpuzzle plays.\u201d Which are, he explains, \u201cPlays where you have to put the puzzle together with the right pieces in the right place and the audience has to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDial M for Murder\u201d is a classic suspense \u2013 the audience is given information that some of the characters on stage do not know, yet Arisco promises a few deceptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many little things in the show are red herrings,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re leaving clues that are false clues just so that the audience might go down the wrong path. And that\u2019s always fun to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the story is fundamentally the same as the original production \u2014 man discovers wife is having an affair, man then plots for his wife\u2019s murder, man then must evade the cops \u2014 Hatcher brings the story to the 21st century in many ways. In addition to the you-have-to-see-it-for-yourself twists, one of the biggest changes in Hatcher\u2019s adaptation is that the lover character, originally Max Hadley, is now Maxine Hadley.<\/p>\n
![\"Mallory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"2-1024x683.jpg\\"")
Mallory Newbrough as Margot Wendice and Lindsey Corey, whose playing Maxine. The role was updated from Max Hadley in Jeffrey Hatcher\u2019s adapation, which Actors\u2019 Playhouse is staging. (Photo by Javier Franceschi) <\/p>\n
Actress Lindsey Corey, who plays the role of Maxine, sees this gender change as significant and adding to the tension on stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such an interesting way to update the script. In a way, it makes the situation with Maxine and Margot more dangerous because at that time, it wasn\u2019t the easiest or safest to be in a same-sex relationship, much less an affair with a married woman,\u201d says Corey. \u201cIt heightens the stakes a lot, but it\u2019s also a cool way to allow these characters to hide their affair.\u201d<\/p>\n
Corey had seen the original Knott version over a decade ago at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupite. She adds how an affair between a lonely housewife and another man has been done so many times before that it\u2019s often expected. This new adaptation, she says, is one that \u201caudiences will really resonate with.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Knott set the story in 1920s London, Hatcher\u2019s version puts the play in the period that it was originally written \u2014 the 1950s. The Actor\u2019s Playhouse version will transform its stage into a London apartment, with the cast speaking in British accents. The exception is Maxine, who is American.<\/p>\n
Arisco says that making Maxine American is another way the play is more contemporary, emphasizing a connection between the United States and England. \u201cIt shows we\u2019re doing business across the pond.\u201d<\/p>\n
The character of Max isn\u2019t the only one to undergo a twist. The play\u2019s central schemer, Tony Wendice is no longer a retired tennis player, but instead he\u2019s a failing writer.<\/p>\n
The role of Tony will be played by local actor Ben Sandomir.<\/p>\n
![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778780589_472_5-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"5-1024x683.jpg\\"")
Ben Sandomir and Daniel Llaca in Actors\u2019 Playhouse\u2019s \u201cDial M for Murder.\u201d (Photo by Javier Franceschi) <\/p>\n
Wearing a smart suit jacket during rehearsal, Sandomir is very much the character of Tony. \u201cTony is described as \u2018charming,\u2019 so I\u2019m trying to bring that to the performance,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make sure I bring enough volume and energy to the role,\u201d continues Sandomir. \u201cTony talks a lot and gives a lot of exposition, so I wanted to make sure it was done in a way where the audience might actually remember what he says.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sandomir, a prolific local actor, is having his Actors\u2019 Playhouse debut with \u201cDial M for Murder.\u201d Although he\u2019s been a working actor in South Florida for decades, Sandomir has yet to step foot (professionally) on the Actors\u2019 Playhouse stage. That will all change this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad I\u2019m finally getting a chance to work here,\u201d Sandomir says.<\/p>\n
Known for his work on local musicals, like his role of Teyve in Zoetic Stage\u2019s 2025 adaptation of \u201cFiddler on the Roof,\u201d Sandomir says he doesn\u2019t often get to work on dialogue-driven plays. \u201cIt\u2019s a muscle I don\u2019t get to stretch very often, but I have a great time doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"4-1024x683.jpg\\"")
Ben Sandomir as Tony Wendice and Lindsey Corey as Maxine Hadley. (Photo by Javier Franceschi) <\/p>\n
Sandomir says he is especially pleased to be working with a cast and creative team he has known for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel fortunate to be working with the group that I\u2019m working with now. It\u2019s a bunch of people that I\u2019ve known and loved for a long time. I\u2019m very happy about this opportunity,\u201d Sandomir says.<\/p>\n
Arisco is excited to finally be working with Sandomir. He\u2019s seen the actor perform at other venues throughout the area and has tried in the past to sign him onto a show, but the timing never worked out. Until now.<\/p>\n
Rounding out the cast of \u201cDial M for Murder\u201d are Mallory Newbrough (playing Margot Wendice), Daniel Llaca (Lesgate) and Stephen G. Anthony (Inspector Hubbard).<\/p>\n
![\"Stephen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/7-1024x683.jpg\" "\\"7-1024x683.jpg\\"")
Stephen G. Anthony as Inspector Hubbard grills Mallory Newbrough as Margot Wendice. (Photo by Javier Franceschi) <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a great story,\u201d says Arisco. \u201cIt\u2019s so much fun to watch people try to plot the most horrific thing in the world, but at the same time, they\u2019re having fun. Of course, it\u2019s an awful thing to plan a murder, but it\u2019s fun for the audience to be following the story and trying to figure things out on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s blackmail, scheming, and, of course, a plot for murder. The play is more of a thriller than a whodunit. From the very start, the audience knows who did what.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s interesting about this play is how the audience sees exactly what happens early in the play, and they get to go on the journey with us as we discover everything,\u201d says Corey. \u201cWe\u2019re putting it together while they\u2019re sitting there, watching us, rooting for us to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for those who know the play or the movie well, the updated version still has some surprises in store.<\/p>\n
If you go:<\/p>\n
WHAT: \u201cDial M for Murder\u201d adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, original story by Frederick Knott<\/p>\n
WHERE: Actors\u2019 Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables<\/p>\n
WHEN: Performances 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Through Sunday, June 7. Weekday matinee 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 20.<\/p>\n
COST: $40 for preview performances; $50, $70, $80, $95<\/p>\n
INFORMATION: (305) 444-9293 or actorsplayhouse.org<\/p>\n
ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Don\u2019t miss a story at www.artburst.com.<\/p>\n