Clue - A New Comedy on tour at the Orpheum

Photo: Evan Zimmerman

What a hilarious show!! Clue - A New Comedy based on the 1985 film, which was inspired by the board game created in 1949,  has everything you need for a very fun night out. As in the film, the stage show (based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, book by Sandy Rustin with additional material by Eric Price and Hunter Foster [Sutton's brother]) opens with the cast arriving at Boddy Manor and being greeted at the door by the Wadsworth - the butler (Mark Price) and Yvette - the maid (Elisabeth Yancey). Entering through the doors are Colonel Mustard (John Treacy Egan), Mrs. White (Tari Kelly), Mrs. Peacock (Joanna Glushak), Mr. Green (John Shartzer), Professor Plum (Jonathan Spivey), and Miss Scarlet (Michelle Elaine). We are also introduced to the Cook (Mariah Burks), Mr. Boddy (Alex Syiek), and the Cop (Teddy Trice).

Photo: Evan Zimmerman

I think we all know the premise of the film. The characters have been invited to Boddy Manor for dinner, and to meet someone who will help them with a financial issue they are all dealing with. It turns out that all six characters have been being blackmailed by Mr. Boddy. When he shows up, he hands out gifts...and they all end up being the classic six weapons. Each of the characters now has a weapon in hand. Mr. Boddy tells them that Wadsworth knows all their secrets and if they get rid of him, the blackmail will be over. Boddy turns out the light, there is a gun shot, the lights come up and Mr. Boddy is on the floor...dead. The rest of the show is a fast paced comedy trying to figure out who killed who, and why, and where. I won't give away the ending but I will tell you that each character has a hilarious moment to shine, and if you have seen the film - you already know how this end.

Photo: Evan Zimmerman

This cast was spot on and so good. Directed by Casey Hushion, the pacing through out the show was fast (90 min, no intermission), and the action was non-stop. Though there was one small stop so that the crew could deal with a small technical issue, it was taken care of quickly and we were back to the mystery at hand. Mark Price and John Shartzer were stand-outs among an incredible cast, mainly due to the physical aspect of their characters. The chandelier drop really shows Shartzer's flexibility and skill at physical comedy. That being written, the writing is clever, and witty, and brings in all your favorite lines from the film, as well as referencing the board game a few times. To top this whole thing off, the set was astounding. The way each room was shown was smart, and the set was versatile with some clever moving bits. While this is being billed as a "New Comedy", it has been staged across the country in regional theaters. This is the first tour of the show. It is fully worth going to see. It plays the Orpheum until March 3 so go and have a good laugh!