Clue: On Stage is a laugh-out-loud, action-packed murder-mystery. It is an entertaining night out at the theater! The popular board game, Clue, is staged as a comedy, using the same characters, settings, and rules as the iconic game. The show is filled with surprises, great staging, a fantastic cast, and a lot of murders to solve. Do not miss this show!
Clue: On Stage is set during the McCarthy hearings in 1950’s America. It is a “dark and stormy night” and six strangers arrive at a mansion. They are invited by the mysterious Mr. Boddy (Body?), the man who is blackmailing each guest. There are three men and three women, each are given aliases: Mr. Green, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Ms. Scarlet, and Mrs. White. They are welcomed by the butler Wadsworth and the maid Yvette. Wadsworth informs the guests that the blackmails will escalate. But Mr. Boddy is murdered (or is he?), and the mayhem explodes. Trapped in the mansion due to the weather, the suspects try to find the murderer in a hysterical series of running in and out of the mansion’s rooms and discovering more murder victims. The characters even move around like the board game, but with more farce and naughty slapstick, then fear and terror. With many winks to the original game, the action is wild, hilarious, and there are puns a-plenty! There are multiple endings played out in a comical time reversal. There is one death scene that is the most over-the-top act I have seen in a long time.
The cast is excellent! They are playful, flirty, and have perfect comic timing. They make each character so wacky and eccentric that it ramps up the fun.
The sets are absolutely wonderful. There are six rooms with secret openings and passageways. When the doors open, you can peek and see the furnishings inside before the room is pulled out onto the stage. The stage is framed with gothic-like décor- it’s a great looking house. Do not miss the opening scene! It is a delight. The sound and lighting effects are excellent, punctuating the mood and comedy.
Murder mysteries can be intriguing and captivating on their own merit. Mix in comedy and the lightness brings an experience that lifts past the gruesome parts. Good luck with the crime solving, if you get the right clues…
Photo credit: Courtesy of Segal Centre
Clue: On Stage. Written by Sandy Rustin. Directed by Lisa Rubin. Show continues until June 29, at Segal Centre, 5170 Chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montreal. Call the box office 514-739-7944 or go to www.segalcentre.org .
