‘Dial M for Murder’ Onstage at The Public (Sun., 9/15/24)

DIAL M FOR MURDER (drama) from the original by Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Pittsburgh Public Theater. Through September 29.

Plot twists are a staple of great murder-mysteries. And Alfred Hitchcock made the most of them. His 1954 film starring Ray Milland and Grace Kelly as a retired tennis pro actively plotting to kill his socialite wife for her money is a bonafide classic. The film script, written by Frederick Knott, was lifted directly from his original 1952 TV and stage play. Dial M first appeared on the BBC, then enjoyed impressive runs in the West End and on Broadway. Now, nearly 75 years later, the stage play has been adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. The plot twists are all still here, but there’s more; Hatcher magically mixes and modifies both gender and motive, adding meaningful layers to modernize this stage thriller. For classicists, worry not; the play is still set in 1952 London. (And no one needs to explain how rotary phones once worked!) Pittsburgh Public Theater has its stage set for suspense, running this new Dial M for Murder until September 29. 2 p.m. In the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave. Cultural District. (C.P.O.)

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