At the Theater: Dial M for Murder and Eureka Day in Coral Gables

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Dial M for Murder

Suspense, deception, and razor-sharp dialogue take center stage at Actors’ Playhouse this month with a gripping new production of Dial M for Murder at the Miracle Theatre.

Originally written by English playwright Frederick Knott, the classic thriller inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s celebrated 1954 film adaptation and has remained a favorite among mystery lovers for decades. This latest staging brings the tension to life with an elegant production that reminds you just how much fun it is to attend a tightly written and well-directed stage drama.

Set in 1950s London, the story follows failing writer Tony Wendice, who devises a deadly scheme to murder his wealthy wife Margot after discovering her affair with an American woman who is also a crime writer. Tony’s carefully crafted plan begins to unravel, however, leading to a dangerous web of blackmail, betrayal, and unexpected twists. The play’s suspense builds steadily not so much as to who did it, but how to catch him.

Actors’ Playhouse, known for its polished productions and strong performances, transforms the Miracle Theatre’s intimate upstairs stage into a stylish world of psychological intrigue. There are no weak performances, but Stephen Anthony is especially on target as the British inspector who tries to solve the mystery.

The production showcases a truly professional staging that blends classic noir atmosphere with timeless themes of greed, manipulation, and justice. Now through June 7.

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
280 Miracle Mile
305.444.9293

Eureka Day

GableStage closes its season with a sharply funny and unsettling production of Eureka Day, Jonathan Spector’s acclaimed satire about modern liberalism, public health and the limits of consensus. The play feels both hilariously absurd and painfully timely.

Set at a progressive private school in Berkeley, California, Eureka Day centers on a well-meaning board of parents and administrators who pride themselves on inclusivity, mindfulness, and collective decision-making. But when a mumps outbreak hits the school and the issue of vaccinations explodes into public debate, the group’s carefully cultivated civility begins to crack. What follows is a chaotic spiral of virtue signaling and passive aggression delivered with biting wit.

Under the direction of Stuart Meltzer, the production balances broad comedy with moments of genuine tension and anguish. The ensemble cast excels at capturing the awkward rhythms of overly woke privileged parents desperate to appear compassionate while dealing with real-world threats. Rita Cole, Ryan Didato, Jordyn Moone, Jeni Hacker and Mark H. Dold bring sharp comedic timing and emotional authenticity to the characters. Dold is positively brilliant as the overly solicitous head of the school who tries to keep everyone happy.

One particularly memorable sequence – a hilariously disastrous online Zoom meeting – earns some of the evening’s loudest laughs while revealing the deep fractures beneath the school’s polished progressive image. As always, GableStage proves fearless in selecting challenging contemporary work. Now through June 14.

GableStage
1200 Anastasia Ave.
305.445.1119