Now Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton has staged Dial M for Murder, which first made its appearance in London's Westminster Theatre and on Broadway in 1952. Theatre Aquarius made a good mid-winter choice with this thriller that poses the question: Is there such a thing as a perfect murder? Well, theatre goers will find out, for the villain of this piece is convinced he has it all worked out, and I am not about to tell if he it right or not. One thing I will say is that the Hitchcock poster headline holds for this production.

This latest incarnation of Dial M for Murder — M standing for Maida Vale — manages to capture exceedingly well the feel of its original period and London setting with its set design and with the wonderful costumes, especially those worn by the leading lady, Helen Taylor, in the role of Margot Wendice. This is definitely a trip down memory lane for anyone who recalls the 1950s and '60s. For a younger generation it is a lesson on how to craft a good thriller without showing even a single drop of blood.

Director Marcia Kash got her start at London's Royal Court Theatre, a place where I spent many hours learning about things theatrical. This Sloane Square theatre is a good place to begin a theatre career, and Kash turned out to be a good student judging by this successful production. It is well paced, and manages to thrill and chill as it should. The five main characters of this play never overshadow each other, and work together as if in an ensemble. Importantly, they produce the appropriate accents to give the play further authenticity.

Peter Krantz plays Tony Wendice, an ex-tennis pro, who has married Margot for her money, although she doesn't quite realize it. Yet, she is unhappy enough in the relationship to have formed an attachment to an American crime fiction writer, Max Halliday, played by Don Carrier. Tony, determined to hang onto his wife's money, decides to settle down when he discovers Margot visiting Max at his flat. But, Tony is a schemer. He purposely meets up with a former university classmate, who, when they first meet again, goes by the name of Captain Lesgate. Quickly we learn that Lesgate, played by Ivan Sherry, is a rather shady character and so is easily blackmailed into doing Tony's bidding.