Whether you know it from rainy days spent scribbling hunches in the margins of “Detective Notes” cards from the 1940s board game or from the 1985 cinematic production; the classical mystery-brought-to-life, “Clue,” has captured the hearts of the puzzle-loving for decades. I, for one, was never much of a fan of the game- the suspense had an amusing effect on me and I quickly got bored of not knowing who the culprit was- the slow reveal of evidence seemed to flaunt that I somehow had still failed to pinpoint the murderer. So, naturally, when I would hear a friend ask if I wanted to watch the movie rendition of such a game I would sigh and settle in for what I presumed would be a solid hour of wishing I just knew the answer. Of course, for one reason or another whenever this suggestion was made we never made it past the introduction credits of the film, leaving me ironically in even deeper suspense.
This November, when I saw the WOHS Drama Club advertising “Clue: Onstage” as the annual fall play. A twinge of this unresolved suspense must have returned to me because I immediately felt excited to see the production. The play is based on the 1980s version of the story and follows the story of six unsuspecting dinner guests (each hiding a crucial secret), as they attempt to uncover the murder of their host, Mr. Boddy. I ended up going with my friend- a huge “Clue” (the movie) fan, who explained in brief the wittiness and humor I was about to experience. I nodded respectfully, excited to see the hard work of the drama club but weary of my self-declared hatred for mystery in itself. Suffice it to say- I immediately disproved myself.
I arrived at a buzzing auditorium full of excited parents and peers. I even recognized the faces of a few elementary students eagerly waiting for the opening curtain. The stage was set and the school had flawlessly transformed into the “Boddy Mansion” (thanks to the dedicated work of the stage crew turned “Parker Brothers”). As the lights dimmed, the play started off strong with a surprise voice cameo from Mr. Thompson (WOHS Library Media Specialist), acting as a news anchor on Yvette’s, (the Boddy estate’s maid) television set who was preparing for the night of mystery. The play introduced each character with flair, perfectly encapsulating their personalities in mere moments on stage. While the audience had just been introduced to each guest of the dinner party, it instantly felt as if we had known them for a lifetime. From Mrs. White’s (played by Junior, Jacsyn Scott) blunt yet chaotic role as a “grieving” widow to Colonel Mustard’s (played by Freshman, Apollo Hooks) role, as a doltishly hilarious military man, captivation with the characters was immediate.
Right off the bat, you could feel the electricity- literally. As each character was introduced a bolt of lightning- followed by the growling barks of the watchdogs intensified the mystery. As the show progressed, the characters would move through the set like game pieces themselves- a masterful combination of elements from both the film and board game variations as well as unique set design. At any given point the main set remained virtually the same but furniture would shift and, during key set changes, each of the six “suspects” (Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Mrs. White, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, and Mr. Green) would move like game pawns around the set made out to look like the “board” all the while looking at each other suspiciously.
There were many moments throughout my watching of the movie where I thought that WOHS “dunnit” best, even compared to the iconic original. This even included my favorite scene (in both the play and the movie) in which Wadsworth (played by Senior Gavin Jaskot) furiously retraces the casts’ steps throughout the evening- talking a mile-a-minute, rapidly placing himself in the position of each character; flopping to the floor as a dead Mr. Boddy one minute, and mocking the terrified scream of Yvette the next. Jaskot, exceptionally executed the scene which demanded him to- not only keep the British accent required of Wadsworth up but also to imitate each of the other characters in his dramatic retelling. Jaskot’s portrayal of Wadworth easily matched the speed of the movie, in fact if Tim Curry (the actor playing Wadsworth in the 1985 film) barely stopped to breathe then Jaskot must have been toting an oxygen tank.
This being my first time ever watching any rendition of “Clue” each scene proved to be more mysterious than the last. Never once did I predict we would end up with Mr. Green, the quirky, awkward government employee to be the mastermind behind Boddy’s death, yet my interest also never faltered. While I loved the energy of each and every scene, I was most impressed by the casts’ expert comedic ability. From their facial expressions, perfectly placed eyerolls, and dramatic screams indicating another murder, to their onstage-interactions, there was hardly a stop to the laughter for the entire show.
After the final curtain, the claps, and the standing ovation, we left the theatre, walking into the cool November. Funnily, the opening night of the show fell on the same night as the Football team’s State Sectional Finals, so the energy outside the theatre was buzzing still. When I got home that night I ordered pizza and switched on the TV. It was time for a double feature. As I watched my second version of “Clue” for the first time that night the perfection of WOHS’ performance sank in. Some moments matched the film line for line, but others, including the major plot twist at the end had been slightly adapted. Despite diehard “Clue” fans who would prefer the cinematic version to the play any day, I found something magical in the thrill of the live performance. As the mystery unfolded it was fun to feel the audience breath with suspense and laugh at the many moments of wit, making the storyline take on an interactive liveliness that made the night so special.
While I probably will never love the board game and its painstaking process, I have made space in my heart for the play and will be sure to buy a ticket to the WOHS Drama Club’s next performance of their annual spring musical “The Prom” this April.
