dial “strongmstrong” for murder - barter theatre.pdfVIP

Study Guide prepared by Catherine Bush Barter Playwright-in-Residence Dial “M” for Murder By Frederick Knott *Especially for Grades 9 and up Barter Theatre Main Stage – Fall, 2013 (NOTE: standards included for completing the study guide as well as seeing a performance of Dial “M” for Murder.) Virginia SOLs Theatre Arts – TI.4, TI.10, TI.11, TI.13, TI.17, TII.1, TII.5, TII.9, TII.12, TII.13, TII.14, TII.15, TII.17, TIII.5, TIII.7, TIII.10, TIII.11, TIII.12 Tennessee Standards (Common Core State Standards) Theatre 9-12 –7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2 North Carolina Standards (North Carolina Essential Standards) Theatre Arts – B.A.1, B.AE.1, B.CU.2, I.C.1, I.A.1, I.AE.1, I.CU.2, P.C.1, P.A.1, P.AE.1, A.A.1, A.AE.1 Setting The living room of the Wendices’ apartment in the Maida Vale residential district, London, England, 1952. Characters Margot Wendice – a wealthy housewife Max Halliday – American television crime writer, Margot’s former lover Tony Wendice – Margot’s husband, former tennis pro Captain Lesgate – Tony’s classmate at Cambridge, formerly known as Swann Inspector Hubbard – police detective Thompson – a policeman Synopsis Tony’s plot to murder his wife Margot for her money goes awry when Margot kills her would-be assailant in self-defense. Now Tony shifts his plans and schemes to frame his Margot for premeditated murder. Can Margot’s ex-lover Max solve the mystery and discover the truth before Margot is hanged for the crime? A thrilling, suspenseful piece that will keep you guessing until the last moment! Vocabulary Words suffocate lucrative deputation export motive tournament bookmaker reprieve revenge obsession