Richland Players’ ‘Dial M for Murder’ opens Jan. 8

For Brianna Sacry, the joy of acting is in the chance to tell a story.

“Part of it is becoming someone else. But it’s becoming someone else to tell a story, to entertain people,” she said. “I like storytelling — the power that stories have to be cathartic, to instruct or just to be fun.”

Or be intense and thrilling.

That’s the case with her latest work.

Sacry is starring in the Richland Players’ production of the classic Dial “M” for Murder.

It opens Jan. 8 at the Players’ historic theater in The Parkway.

The play, written by Frederick Knott, centers on Sacry’s Margot Wendice and her husband, Tony, a former professional tennis player.

It involves an affair, a murder plot and plenty of suspense.

“It’s not a mystery in the sense of, who did it? We all know who did it,” said Joyce Bean, the director. The mystery and fun, she said, come in the characters catching up — or not.

“It’s really quite the story, quite fun,” she said.

The play inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film, which starred Ray Milland as Tony and Grace Kelly as Margot.

In the Players’ production, Nathan Dirkmaat takes on the role of Tony.

Others in the cast include James Callaghan as Max Halliday, Michael Aardal as Capt. Lesgate, Joe Kimmel as Inspector Hubbard and Zack Taylor as Thompson.

Bean praised Sacry and the rest of the actors, saying they’re a hard-working and talented crew with a range of theater experience.

Sacry started acting as a kid, appearing in church plays and productions in middle and high school.

The 2005 graduate of Hanford High School in Richland went on to minor in theater at Central Washington University.

“I’ve always liked theater and been involved when I can,” she said.

That has included roles in several local productions, from Players’ The 39 Steps in 2013 to The Rude Mechanicals’ Much Ado About Nothing in 2015.

Dial “M” for Murder is a different kind of story, a different kind of show.

It’s not light-hearted, but “it’s entertaining,” Sacry said. “I think people will really enjoy it.”

Performances are at 8 p.m. Jan. 8-9, 15-16 and 22-23, and at 2 p.m. Jan. 17 and 24.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students, seniors and military members. They’re available at the box office and www.richlandplayers.org.

The Players’ theater is at 608 The Parkway, Richland.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Richland Players’ ‘Dial M for Murder’ opens Jan. 8."