The characters listen closely at the door, hoping to uncover more clues as the mystery unfolds in Clue.
“Clue,” the classic murder mystery, is making its way to the stage through California Baptist University’s theatre program. Through comedy, suspense and a cast of unexpected characters, the story follows a group of dinner-party guests as murders unfold inside a mysterious mansion.
Audiences familiar with the board game will recognize characters such as Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard and Mrs. Peacock as they attempt to determine who is responsible before the mystery claims another victim. The stage production combines the whodunit structure of the original game with the fast-paced humor associated with the story’s later adaptations.
The production is based on the well-known board game and the 1985 film of the same name. The stage adaptation was written by Sandy Rustin, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price, based on Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay. The first stage production premiered at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania, in 2017.
Bringing the story to a live audience requires the cast and crew to balance several elements at once. The mystery must continue moving forward while the actors maintain the comedic timing and quick pace that define the show.
CBU’s production has come together in a little more than a month, requiring students and faculty to prepare quickly for the fast-paced comedy.
Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre arts and director of the production, reflected on the preparation involved in bringing the show to the stage.
“We overcome that the same way you solve any complicated problem in theater: preparation, repetition and collaboration. Everyone has to know not only their own job, but how their piece fits into the larger puzzle,” Bortot said in a CBU News article.
That preparation extends to the student performers, who have had to learn their roles and develop the show’s comedic timing within a short rehearsal period. With multiple characters, quick exchanges and a mystery developing throughout the production, each performer contributes to the larger story unfolding onstage.
Sidra Roche, junior elementary education major, described the pace of preparing for the production.
“‘Clue’ is the first full comedy play I’ve been in. And it’s been the quickest, only a month to put together; it was a fast process. It’s been fun and includes the right comedic bits,” Roche said.
Comedy remains an important part of the production despite the murder mystery at its center. The unusual personalities of the characters allow humor and suspense to exist alongside one another as the story moves from clue to clue.
The show’s humor comes through not only in the story but also in its cast of unusual characters.
Ava Hill, junior theatre major, plays the Singing Telegram Girl, a smaller role that contributes to the production’s comedic tone.
“I’m playing the Singing Telegram Girl, and she’s definitely one of the funnier characters. She has a really important moment in the story even with such a small role but she gets a chance to shine,” Hill said.
Even smaller characters become part of the larger mystery, requiring audiences to pay attention as new information is revealed and the suspects attempt to piece together what happened inside the mansion.
While individual characters help bring out the show’s comedy, the production still depends on the audience following the mystery as it unfolds.
Micah Hebert, sophomore theatre and creative writing double major, shared his perspective on the production and the experience audiences can expect.
“They should expect to be engaged in the story. For someone who hasn’t seen it before, they will figure out the story through the characters,” Hebert said.
Part of the appeal of “Clue” comes from allowing the audience to participate in the mystery from their seats. As characters reveal information and the story shifts from one possibility to another, viewers can form their own guesses about what happened and who may be responsible.
CBU’s production brings together the familiarity of the board game, the humor of the film and the energy of live theatre. For the cast and crew, the short preparation period has required collaboration to make each piece of the production fit together before opening night.
“Clue” opens Oct. 9 at Wallace Theatre, with additional performances scheduled for Oct. 10, 16, 17 and 18. The production brings the familiar murder mystery to the CBU stage through a combination of suspense, comedy and fast-paced storytelling.
