Two things struck me right off as I settled into my seat at Shea’s 710 for the Road Less Traveled Production’s staging of the class Dial M for Murder: will younger audiences know what Dial M actually means? (in the olden days, rotary phone numbers began with a word or name and the Wendice home phone started with M, says this boomer whose family phone number once started with FA for Fairview); and I hope MusicalFare Theatre revives Million Dollar Quartet so Steve Copps can portray someone likeable again.

In this fabulously and subtly adaptation of Frederick Knott’s classic thriller (kudos to Jeffrey Hatcher for the outstanding treatment), Copps is Tony Wendice who has his heart set on inheriting his wife’s fortune. He’s deliciously arrogant and cunning and handsome and slimy all at the same time. He plays his role flawlessly with just enough bravado with a soupcon of dumb-cute-guy. Kate LoConti Alcocer is his wife Margo, all elegance and 1950s-womanhood…dissatisfied in her marriage and respectful enough of decorum to want to keep her feelings a secret from her husband and the world. In a terrific twist, she is canoodling with crime novelist Maxine Hadley (Kristen Tripp Kelley) who happens to be a client of Wendice’s public relations firm. Adam Yellen as the will-kill-for-cash guy Lesgate and Todd Benzin as Inspector Hubbard round out the cast. Director Robyn Lee picked the perfect cast: each actor had the panache and chops to give this story all it needed and more.

Dyan Burlingame created the quintessential mid-century living room for the set. The sunken seating area with the dropped in fireplace and the drinks table and desk were 1952 perfection, with Diane Almeter Jones’ furnishings and props. Kari Drozd captured the characters’ personalities in their attire, from Tony’s sophisticated tuxedo and smoking jacket, to Margo’s glorious emerald green cocktail dress, to Maxine sturdy skirted suits. Jennifer Toohey had the dialects all on point. The look, the mood, the tone sustained the story admirably.

The full house on a Sunday afternoon proved that a good story (complemented by a stellar cast supported by a great set and associated accoutrements) is timeless, whether you saw it on stage or screen many times before. While RLTP prides itself on bringing new and innovative works to WNY stages, sometimes the comfort of something with familiar – with some refreshing and welcomed tweaks – is just what you need to see.

Dial M for Murder runs a quick two hours with a 15-minute intermission to April 13. Find details and tickets at http://www.sheas.org.