Upstage Artists’ production of The Maltese Falcon delivers a solid, engaging evening of classic detective noir. Adapted and directed by John Cusumano from Dashiell Hammett’s seminal novel, this staging offers a warm, accessible entry point into hard-boiled crime fiction that will particularly s atisfy fans of the original story and vintage mysteries alike. The classic story begins when private detective Sam Spade (Dylan Hernandez) and his partner, Miles Archer (Anmol Arora), are hired by the mysterious Ruth Wonderly (Nancy Somers) to shadow a man named Floyd Thursby and rescue her sister. When both Archer and Thursby are murdered in cold blood, Spade becomes a primary suspect and must navigate a treacherous web of deceit to find the killer and ultimately find the Maltese Falcon before he and everyone who touches it dies. Dylan Hernandez as Sam Spade and Anmol Arora as The Kid in ‘The Maltese Falcon.’ Photo by Manny Mendez. The production engages the audience up close in its intimate venue. Cusumano makes excellent use of the tight performance area, ensuring the stage never feels crowded, even when all characters are present. Paired with a functional set that lands you squarely in a private eye’s office or residence with just enough period detail, and with sound design by Cusumano and Rick Bergmann, the atmosphere effectively captures the flavor of the 1930s. A visually striking highlight of the production is Joanne Breen’s colorful costume design. Rather than relying solely on muted noir tones, Breen dresses the cast in vibrant suits and dresses. The color palette maps intentionally to character motives and thematic beats — red signaling prowess, green reflecting money, and blue denoting truth — adding an inventive layer of visual storytelling to the proceedings. With the stage set, Cusumano’s ensemble delivers strong, nuanced performances. Dylan Hernandez anchors the cast as Samuel Spade with a volatile, captivating presence. Hernandez excels in Spade’s rapid emotional turns — swinging wildly from fiery outbursts to quiet sincerity. This dynamic shines brightest in his interactions with Effie Perrine (Michaela Haber), where explosive anger flips to genuine affection, and in his high-stakes sparring with Ruth Wonderly (Nancy Somers). Spade and Wonderly alternate between seduction, violent interrogation, and moments where Spade sees straight through her facade. Somers presents Wonderly as a fascinating, unreliable narrator. As one audience member enthusiastically said during a post-show talkback, “We hated her.” While her overt damsel-in-distress routines feel deliberately unconvincing, her subtle, conniving moments carry real weight — quietly slipping a gun or shifting money when eyes are turned. Kelly Simmons brings impressive gravity to an expanded role as Iva Archer, commanding respect in a tragic portrait of a woman who uses her sex appeal as power in a world of men who dismiss her, including her womanizing husband, Miles (Anmol Arora). Nancy Somers as Wonderly, Vedant Sharma as Gutman, and Dylan Hernandez as Sam Spade in ‘The Maltese Falcon.’ Photo by Manny Mendez. Throughout the performance, the cast maintains strong diction and good pacing. Rather than full fourth-wall breaks, actors occasionally offer subtle pre-blackout facial expressions — a momentary slipping of the character mask that makes the audience feel let in on a secret. While modern speech patterns occasionally lack the distinct, rapid-fire rhythmic beat associated with vintage noir screenplays, the ensemble handles the complex exposition admirably. Where the production stumbles slightly is in its structural rhythm. Adapting Hammett’s dense novel is a monumental task, and while Cusumano successfully pares down the cast to a manageable roster, the play spans 31 scenes with blackouts between each. Even though most transitions move rapidly, the sheer frequency creates a choppiness that keeps you at an arm’s length from the characters — though that emotional distance echoes the stand-offish nature of the source material. Furthermore, some longer scenes intentionally spin their wheels, capturing the narrative’s central theme of characters constantly stalling for time while dodging the truth. Ultimately, Upstage Artists delivers a thoughtful, spirited production. It is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-acted show that honors its source material and makes great use of its cozy space. If you love classic detective fiction or a well-crafted noir, it is well worth your time. Running Time: Two hours and 20 minutes, including a 10-minute intermission. The Maltese Falcon plays through September 27, 2026 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 2 PM), presented by UpStage Artists, performing at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, MD. Purchase tickets ($15) online. The Maltese FalconAdapted and directed by John Cusumano from The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett CASTSam Spade: Dylan HernandezRuth Wonderly: Nancy SomersEffie Perrine: Michaela HaberCasper Gutman: Vedant SharmaJoel Cairo: Rick BergmannMiles Archer / Wilmer ‘The Kid’: Anmol AroraLt. Polehaus: Count MomoLt. Dundy: Marc FerraraIva Archer: Kelly Simmons ...read more read less