Clue LIve in Stage
Comic Murder Mystery on Tour
By: Aaron Krause - Jun 16, 2024
Whodunnit, you ask?
It doesn’t matter.
Experiencing Clue Live on Stage (80 minutes, no intermission) is so much fun that you forget about the reveal and just bask in the hilarity leading up to the conclusion. In fact, you don’t want the show to end.
But for some, it never began. The wet weather in South Florida over the past week or so tried to dampen area theatergoers’ plans to see Clue at The Broward Center for the Arts in Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately, Mother Nature partially succeeded by washing out two performances (flooding caused the powers that be to cancel them). So, audiences had fewer chances than they otherwise would have had to catch a performance in Ft. Lauderdale of the impressive equity national touring production of Clue Live on Stage.
The Ft. Lauderdale run ends today, Sunday, June 16, after the 1 p.m. performance. But if you live in Florida, keep your chin up; the production will return to the Sunshine State in December. Specifically, it will stop at Sarasota’s Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for three performances over two days on Dec. 30 and 31.
The basis for Clue Live on Stage is the iconic 1985 Paramount movie, also titled Clue. Meanwhile, inspiration for the film came from the classic Hasbro Board game, titled Clue as well.
The tale takes place in 1954 New England at Boddy Manor, a “mansion of epic proportions and terrifying secrets.” It’s probably no coincidence that the mansion is called Boddy Manor. Indeed, dead bodies pile up as the play progresses.
The situation is simple: Six mysterious guests gather for a dinner party where murder and blackmail are part of the fare. When their host turns up dead, all invitees become suspects.
Wadsworth, the butler, is in charge, and he’s a driving force in the play. Meanwhile, the guests include Yvette, a French Maid with secret aspirations; Miss Scarlet, a D.C. Madam more interested in secrets than sex; Mrs. Peacock, the church-going wife of a Senator; Mrs. White, who may have killed her five ex-husbands; Colonel Mustard, a pompous military man; Professor Plum, an academic who woos women; and Mr. Green, a timid rule follower.
Various other characters figure into the mix as well, including “The Cook” and law enforcement officers.
One of the keys to the hilarity of it all is carefully choreographed chaos. It only appears as though disorder reigns onstage. In reality, what transpires is one big carefully planned and exquisitely executed wild, wacky, fast-paced dance. Indeed, at times you feel as though you are watching a daffy silent film.
Under Casey Hushion’s precise direction, the comic timing is spot on, and that is essential in a farce. The actors know exactly when, for instance, to quickly turn their head and widen their eyes in one motion to achieve the desired comedic effect. Also, spit flies, doors slam, and actors eavesdrop, scurry, scream, spin, and fall. In addition, at least one actor sweats.
You can clearly see perspiration glisten on cast member Mark Price’s body as he seemingly tirelessly portrays the butler. And it’s no wonder. Portraying Wadsworth requires an actor to perform with comic intensity for a lengthy period. Surely, you’ll not only marvel at Price’s talent, but his stamina. Undoubtedly, this performance is a calorie burner that offers an intense a workout similar to the singing and dancing number by the Genie in the Disney musical, Aladdin.
Price also nails the uptight formality of a traditional British butler.
While Price’s performance is priceless, his fellow cast members shine as well. In particular, Elisabeth Yancey seduces as French maid Yvette, John Treacy Egan is positively pompous as Colonel Mustard, Tari Kelly intrigues as Mrs. White, Joanna Glushak is neurotically comical as Mrs. Peacock, John Shartzer naturally tenses up as timid and anxious Mr. Green, Jonathan Spivey makes a thoughtful Professor Plum, and Michelle Elaine is drily sardonic as Miss Scarlet.
Other actors, including Mariah Burks, Alex Suiek, and Teddy Trice, excel in more than one role.
Since the show is only 80 minutes long, creators Sandy Rustin, Hunter Foster, and Eric Price have painted the characters in broad brushstrokes; they are hardly well developed.
Before the show, we see a large portrait of what resembles a dark castle. Of course, the sky surrounding it is threatening and lightning is flashing.
When the curtain opens, we see, among other things, tall, brown, stately walls and elegant chandeliers. These pieces comprise the set for Boddy Manor. Scenic designer Lee Savage has rendered the large, flexible set elegantly and with period detail. When we transition from one room to another, drop-down set pieces fall to stand for another locale.
Meanwhile, the lighting design by Ryan O’Gara focuses the actors, specifies locales, and creates appropriate moods (for instance, red lighting stands for danger). Special lighting effects help to create unsettling sensations such as an elevator briskly ascending.
Some of Jen Caprio’s costumes glisten, befitting the characters who wear them. One of the costumes that stand out is the one clothing Mrs. White; it’s black, perhaps suggesting that things and people are not what they seem.
An air of mystery and intrigue heightens the action, and sound designer Jeff Human’s effects, such as claps of thunder, accentuate the sensation. Mysterious and foreboding music also adds to the aura (Michael Holland is the composer and music supervisor).
While parts of Clue are suspenseful, there is nothing in the show that is truly horrific or creepy. Chances are, you’ll warm the edge of your seat, and you may gasp at the suddenness of occurrences.
If you’re looking for something thought provoking, Clue is not cerebral. Rather, it’s an escapist piece that delivers plenty of laughs through mostly low comedy.
It’s what we need nowadays to make us at least temporarily forget about our damaged world.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Clue
WHEN AND WHERE: Through today in Ft. Lauderdale, with a 1 p.m. performance at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. in Ft. Lauderdale. After the Ft. Lauderdale run, the production will travel to many other cities. For details, go to www.clueliveonstage.com. For information about the Ft. Lauderdale run, go to www.browardcenter.org.