On a dark and stormy night, six strangers arrive to a majestic mansion. But will they survive the night? Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, Sandy Rustin’s Clue is a hilarious murder mystery caper which brings the “classic detective game” to the stage. Directed by Wren Theatre’s artistic director Tatum Lee, Clue brings everything you love about the film to life right before your eyes.

Mr. Boddy has assembled six of his top “clients”, let’s call them, to his mansion. All of them are part of the Washington elite, and with McCarthyism running rampant, they’re all terrified as to why they’ve been summoned via anonymous letter. Suddenly, the employees of Boddy Manor begin dropping like flies, but who is responsible? And how will they hide the evidence from the police’s impeding arrival?

The Annex Theatre is the perfect venue for a production like Clue; with multiple entrance and exit points, the possibilities abound! Lee does an expert job of using the space, putting up door frames in the voms so that there are two extra “rooms” as well as making full use of every doorway and stair case throughout the production. There are even some surprise elements included which make for extra excitement and fun. Of course with something like Clue, one of the main physical comedy elements for me is the criss-crossing between rooms in a “Scooby Doo” style chase scene. This fully comes to fruition, complete with only flashlights to light their way. The costuming deftly mirrors that of the film, while still having its own unique flair.

Hunter Foster and Eric Price added in written material for this production of Clue, and I especially enjoyed them using the guessing order right off the top of the show. Several times a person, room, and item are mentioned in that order, evoking the classic board game, and for those who are familiar, it’s a riot! Clue is very self-aware, making it all the more fun for fans of both game and film alike.

Jordan Imray does Tim Curry proud as Wadsworth. A perfect combination of suave and silly, Imray proves why he’s a Wren Theatre mainstay. Daniel Christian Jones is a delightfully clumsy Mr. Green; his physical comedy is always on point. Robert Notman’s Colonel Mustard delivers his plethora of malapropisms with a perfectly straight face, making the audience roar with laughter. Jesse McQueen’s Mrs. White is on edge from the moment she walks in, and her anxiousness makes for some key (and hilarious) jump scares. Jennifer McEwen is sultry and seductive as Miss Scarlet. Bonnie Anderson’s Mrs. Peacock is the perfect picture of Republican piety and her vivacity makes her a joy to watch. Jack Creaghan’s Professor Plum gets a little lost in the sauce (pun intended), but there are several moments where he gets to shine. Lizzie Moffat’s Yvette has the perfect French Maid air about her, though at times I realized that the accent was a little thick and I couldn’t fully understand everything she was saying. Drea Bruck plays the curmudgeonly Cook, and I loved how intense her presence was on stage. Liam Cardinell is once again a scene-stealer as Mr. Boddy and other characters; his larger-than-life personality is perfect for a show like Clue. Lucas Blakely gets the whole audience laughing as The Unexpected Cop, whose willful blindness to the chaos around him is hysterical.

If you’re ready for a good laugh, get yourself out to Clue. There is something very cathartic about sitting in a room together and feeling the joy and surprise spread throughout the room; we need it now more than ever, I think. Whether you’re a huge fan of the game, or film, or just haven’t got a Clue, this production has something for everyone.

Clue runs at the Annex Theatre until June 14. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wrentheatre/2104140

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Cover Photo: Jesse McQueen, Bonnie Anderson, Daniel Christian Jones, and Jennifer McEwen. Photo by Tatum Lee.

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