By Hank Nuwer
Tension was high last weekend when the Fairbanks Drama Association presented playwright Frederick Knott’s classic “Dial `M’ for Murder.
The tension wasn’t just onstage from the attempted murder of Margot Wendice, unfaithful wife to the diabolical ex-tennis star Tony Wendice.
No, the tension was for real—and felt by the entire cast Here’s why!
One month before Opening Night, FDA learned it had lost its appointed director.
Stepping in as the new director was Bill Wright, a theater pro who has directed and produced shows for television as well as theater. He hoped to salvage the show so that season ticket holders would not be disappointed.
Instead of auditions, Bill and stage manager Cindy Wright chose a team of veteran community theater actors they thought might pull off a minor miracle.
The hastily assembled cast members learned they had 3.5 weeks to memorize a substantial number of lines.
Gulp!
When Bill’s job took him away from Fairbanks, stage manager Cindy Wright replaced him.
Assisting Cindy was a one-woman stage crew—Presbyterian Hospitality House accountant Gosia Wroblewska-Nuwer.
Props manager Nancy Fresco, a writer and climate-change research professor at UAF, somehow put together all the props.
Seamstress Bobbie Tarkianen worked hard to design the 1950s-era costumes—as three of the characters required complicated costume changes.
Theater veterans Remi Wright and Beckie Timmovich took command respectively of the sound design and stage lighting board.
Veteran stage designer Don Evans and Bill Wright worked many an afternoon to erect the set—the living room of Tony and Margot Wendice in 1950s’ London. Scenic artist Greg Gustafson painted the set’s interior.
The director broke rehearsals into manageable bits. Cast members were given some evenings off to cram lines while others rehearsed. Dress rehearsals the final week went on until nearly 11 p.m.
October 24 arrived, and it was, ready or not, opening night. Every single male actor in the cast dutifully sacrificed his beard earlier that day to fit the time period.
For two-plus hours onstage, ordinary Fairbanks residents transformed into actors and stagehands.
Retired professor David Valentine became the villain. Theater artist/musician Carey Stewart acted as the villain’s wife. Middle school teacher John Lee became the playboy lover. Martial arts instructor Jivan Gordon-Wolfe acted as policeman. Theater set designer Don Evans acted as the would-be killer, and yours truly, a UAF adjunct journalism professor, became the deceptively clueless Chief Inspector.
That’s the attraction of community theater. Audiences get to see and support neighbors they see now and then at the bank or food store.
I won’t fib and say the first weekend went without a glitch. In a couple spots, one or more cast members flubbed their lines. But that’s the beauty of a community theater team. Always another cast member stepped in and kept the play on course.
Dial M for Murder plays in Fairbanks all this weekend and next. Friday and Saturday shows begin 7:30 p.m. Sunday performances are at 2 p.m.
After putting in overtime hours, the cast members know all their lines and plan to give Fairbanks audiences their all and more. This is a brisk, high-energy FDA production.
Why not stop by this weekend or next and catch a performance?
After all, a theater audience is every bit as important as the director, cast and crew.
Hank Nuwer works remotely as a columnist for the Cordova Times and as a professor for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.