Want to see a real good who-done-it? “Dial M For Murder” at the Hackmatack Barn Playhouse in North Berwick is such a show. The show was written by Frederick Knott, who also wrote the successful screen lay as well as the stage play on which it is based.

The play premiered on BBC Television in 1952 before being performed on London’s West End and then on Broadway. It was made into a motion picture in 1954 directed by Alfred Hitchcock with background music by Dmitri Tiomkin. A small role in that film went to John Williams, who achieved fame later as a composer of many outstanding movie scores. Tiomkin, no slouch himself may be remembered as the composer of such hits as “Do Not Forsake Me O My Darlin.” Hitchcock is remembered as the director of numerous Hollywood mystery movies (“Rear Window’) as well as being a host of his own television series. Only a few senior citizens that attended the Hackmatack performance recognized the “Dance of the Marionettes” by Dukas as the theme song of Hitchcock’s TV show.

Dial M is the fourth show produced at Hackmatack and in my opinion was one of the best and most diverse selection of shows. The season started with the comedy “Lend Me A Tenor,” followed by the pop musical “All Shook Up,” continued with a major musical./dramatic show, “The Bridges of Madison County” and is concluding with the mystery, “Dial M For Murder.”

Hackmatack is not community theater, nor can it survive by trying to compete with the commercial fare at Ogunqquit for example. What it can do and has done is offer professional productions, using personnel who either graduated from college as theater majors or folks who have experience in theatrical productions, mostly in the New England region. Yes, and the modest ticket prices reflect this difference.

Dial M has a small cast but they must deliver their lines in such a manner as to propel the story.

Mr. Knott builds his story with numerous bits and pieces of evidence that lead up to the unexpected conclusion. The plot leads the audience to believe that, by golly, he got away with it, until it all unravels at the very end. Audiences, particularly younger ones, are not accustomed with plots that develop slowly and do not depend on forensic evidence. Hit shows like “NCIS” take less than an hour to deliver the goods. This show develops slowly, bit by bit, thread by thread.

Margot Wendice (Crystal Lisbon), the wife of the central character Tony Wendice (Bretton Reis), once had an affair with novelist Max Halliday (Svev Wiberg.) Tony found a letter written by Max to Margot and upset with her infidelity decides to have her killed and inherit her money. The murder does not go as planned and the man he hired to do the deed, Captail Lezgate (Adam LaFramboise) dies in a struggle with Margo.

I will not reveal what transpires from this point. You could rent the movie, but better yet, you should go to Hackmatack and see for yourself! The show was skillfully directed by Gary Locke although I would question why Tony always has to sit down on the desk every time he answers the phone.

Bret Reis gives a brilliant performance as the husband, and Lisbon gives a very sympathetic and plausible account as the wife. LaFramboise gives a more than adequate impression of the morally delinquent scoundrel, Wiberg rises to the occasion in the last act as the person who still loves Margo and wants to save her. It is Richard Harris, as Inspector Hubbard (in his ill-fitting suit) that steals the show, particularly in the last climactic scene.

The set has many nice touches in it, e.g. the faux fire in the fireplace as part of an upscale apartment in London.

The good crowd at the opening performance I attended followed the action intently. They, myself included, became involved with the threads of evidence which the author dispenses like crumbs along the way. The performers were given rousing cheers at the end … justly I might add.

The show continues at Hackmatack from Aug. 22-25 and Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 8 p.m. with matinees on Aug. 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. For reservations, call 698-1807.

— Dr. Morton Gold is a composer/conductor, retired educator and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.