Behind the Set Design of Dial M for Murder: Kandinsky Reproductions

When crafting the world of Dial M for Murder, the design and creation of the set go well beyond architecture and furniture. At Gulfshore Playhouse, where everything is built from the ground up, the scenic design for this production showcases the talents of our very own scenic artisans. For Dial M for Murder, the team embraced a lofty artistic challenge: recreating four works of the famous Russian abstract painter Wassily Kandinsky.

This opportunity allowed our scenic artisan team to flex their creative muscles in an entirely new way. Each reproduction required hours of painstaking attention to detail to ensure that the pieces mirrored Kandinsky’s original masterpieces. This kind of artistic detail speaks to the depth of talent within Gulfshore Playhouse’s production team, and proves that the artistry behind the scenes is as inspiring as what unfolds on stage!

Scenic Designer Linda Buchanan shared her thoughtful approach to choosing these specific Kandinsky paintings. “Margot Wendice, the character who lives in the apartment, is quite wealthy, so she can afford to buy the work of a well-known artist. She is also married yet has an affair…which makes her more complicated than one might expect,” Buchanan explained. Kandinsky’s modernist style against the Georgian interior of the Wendice flat reflects Margot’s multifaceted personality and adds an element of contrast to the space. 

When you come to see Dial M for Murder at Gulfshore Playhouse, you’ll find these stunning reproductions strategically placed within the Wendice flat. Creating each of these reproductions required hours of dedicated work:

Upwards, approximately 10-12 hours, reproduced by Katherine Burns, hangs above the Stage Left bookcase. Click here to see a video of this reproduction coming to life!

Above and Left, reproduced by Larashleigh Wallace, also required 10-12 hours, and is  displayed in the Stage Right bookcase.

Painting with Houses, reproduced by James Allen, was completed in about 8 hours, and hangs in the main stairwell just Stage Right of center.

White Stroke, the largest piece, was a collaborative effort by Katherine Burns, Larashleigh Wallace, and Sam Swasso, took around 16-18 hours due to its complexity. You won’t miss it hanging above the fireplace on the Stage Left wall.

And when the run of Dial M wraps, these paintings’ journey doesn’t end. Recognizing the artistry and care invested in these reproductions, the team plans to give each single-painter piece to its creator, while the collaborative White Stroke will find a new home in the brand new Gulfshore Playhouse Production Center, scheduled to open and fully operational February 2025.

With its meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful integration of Kandinsky’s works, the set design for Dial M for Murder at Gulfshore Playhouse offers a stunning backdrop of this classic thriller. You don’t want to miss it!

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