Clue: The Board Game on Tour by Slava Tomasevich

 Clue: The Board Game on Tour

Clue: A New Comedy transforms the classic Hasbro board game into a witty, charming 90-minute whodunit tale, filled with a bold cast of memorably diverse characters and clever situational comedy to construct a genius murder mystery that encapsulates the game’s infamous social elements. Written by Sandy Rustin, the play leans on a masterfully written murder plot that blindsides the audience through to its conclusion, leaving them as puzzled and panicked as the cast on stage. Its practical and cartoonish comedy doesn’t obstruct the severity of the frivolous plot but establishes its distinct attitude over the situation. Among many impressive set and lighting aspects, Clue has absolutely lived up to its namesake.

Even though the story’s progression was often quickly-paced and sporadic, its pacing kept the audience captivated and committed to the conflict at hand and never left them in the dark. For example, full cast moments in the mansion were speedy and full of panic and commotion, yet they were easy to follow and interpret. This efficiency gave more attention to the many incredible comedic aspects of the show within dialogue and situation, enhanced even more by the exciting personalities of the party’s guests. Mark Price (Wadsworth) had an insatiable energy to the role on top of clever remarks and well-spoken sarcasm. Comedic relief came in the precious form of John Treacy Egan’s (Colonel Mustard) hilarious aura of blissful ignorance, along with John Shartzer’s (Mr. Green's) goofy physicality and well-crafted stunt work. The chemistry between all the unique characters propelled the show's comedic elements while keeping the characters genuine and the plot unfolding.

The stage adaptation of Clue came with the unique challenge of incorporating separate rooms into the set to further mimic the feeling of a manor of epic proportions. An imposing aspect of this production’s set was the sliding platforms at each corner of the set, which extended to reveal the different rooms of the Boddy mansion, all of which were unique, detailed, and timely. This fragmentation of the manor provided a clear perspective of the house’s structure, leaving ample space in the central hall and minimizing time spent on set transitions despite two instances of a malfunctioning door. The extending rooms were a novel way of saving space and time while still creating the perception of a multi-room environment. Lighting and sound contributed significantly to the show's tone, with flickering chandeliers, thunder, and lightning strikes accompanying the more dramatic scenes. One instance of lighting that was particularly impressive was the choreographed number with bright lights illuminating the stage from each of the extending rooms, creating a captivating image over the panicking characters. The show’s scene changes were expertly masked by a slew of genuinely entertaining actions by the entire cast that diverted the audience's attention from any moving set pieces. All in all, the tech factors of the show made a tremendous difference in the show’s production and performance.