As the lights dim and the curtain draws, characters clad in monochromatic cocktail outfits begin filing onto the stage. Following the success of their last production, TheatreMcLean has switched gears from the historical genre of Men on Boats to the murder mystery theme of Clue, which ran from April 30 to May 3.
“[Performing Clue] has always been a joke in [TheatreMcLean]. Every year, [we ask ourselves if we’re going to do Clue], and we’re like, ‘nah.’ It’s always been funny, kind of like, ‘is it going to happen?” TheatreMcLean teacher Phillip Reid said. “Finally, this fall, we said we were going to do it; it was just the right play to end the year. We needed something that was just fun and entertaining and farcical.”
This play is based on the popular 1985 film movie Clue, which is inspired by Hasbro, a widely-loved board game.
“[Clue] is a little bit more nostalgic, kind of like another little movie kind of thing. At the end of the day, though, I just wanted to tell a story that was entertaining and have the audience leave feeling a little lighter,” Reid said. “You go in there and just have fun for 90 minutes, and that’s what the show offers. So like you go and have 90 minutes of fun, leave with a smile on your face.”
The play centers around six suspects who are invited to a dinner party at a mansion. Each of the guests are blackmailed by the host, who is suddenly murdered. The suspects try to figure out who had the most motive to commit the crime.
Preparations for the show began several months ago, reflecting the team’s extensive effort.
“I’ve been working with [Reid] since late February to make sure everything’s good and we have an idea in mind of how we want the set to look and how we want the production to be,” said sophomore Sophie Larson, a stage production manager.
Larson was deeply involved in the behind-the-scenes process during the many months and weeks leading up to the performance.
“As rehearsal goes on, I help organize cast lists; I made a crew list of all the tech heads. I went through and helped keep production meetings on track,” Larson said. “For tech heads, I made sure they knew the dates for everything, and for actors, I was at every single rehearsal. So I’ve been there for all that, and I’ve been taking blocking notes.”
What makes TheatreMcLean’s rendition of Clue stand out is the vitality that all cast members bring into their performances.
“All the actors bring so much personality into [their acting],” Larson said. “Hayden Schweiker, who’s one of our actors who plays Wadsworth, does an amazing job at improvising a last little section, and it’s really cool.”
Bcause this play is a murder mystery with a comedic twist, the final moments are meant to keep the audience on the edge of their seats with laughter.
“Since this role is new to me, nerves come with it,” said Astro Baxter, who plays the role of Mrs. White, one of the central suspects. “But once you reach the stage, it melts away. I also struggle not to laugh in the final scenes of the show due to the insanity of it all.”
The play incorporates interesting mechanical aspects, such as rolling platforms.
“I love the rolling modules. They rolled in and out because the script jumps from different scenes really quickly,” Reid said, “It was really fun to see, especially when the kitchen was rolling out and the study was rolling in.”
The cast members are all extremely invested in the story and have a harmonious team dynamic. Ultimately, they all find Clue to be a rewarding choice.
“The piece only flows when everyone is immersed in the story, fully reliving it as if it was for the first time and listening to each other,” Baxter said. “This show was one of the first ones where I did not have to seek it out: it came to me, and all of us. It brings a peace and connection you cannot find anywhere else, and when you are fully enveloped in the story, nothing else can touch you.”
