Raising the Curtain to Find a ‘Clue’

CIBC Theatre’s rendition of “Clue” is a fanciful farce.

Based on the 1985 film and board game “Clue,” CIBC Theatre’s playful stage production follows six secretive strangers invited to a secluded, maze-like mansion.

Butler Wadsworth (Jeff Skowron) shepherds party attendees Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Miss Scarlet and Professor Plum about the manor. Invited by the anonymous Mr. Boddy, the guests investigate their blackmailing host and the murderer lurking in their midst.

“Clue” is a whodunnit in the vein of an Agatha Christie novel with the slapstick wit of a Mel Brooks feature. Cloak-and-dagger antics run rampant with clever wordplay — “no Boddy,” “no body” and “nobody” — and double entendres as the cast stumbles over words as often as they do each other.

The ensemble parodies seedy sycophants within American politics, spanning from incompetent colonels to paid mistresses. Set in 1954, the show satirizes McCarthyist paranoia, adding comedic deceit to the murder spree.

Mrs. Peacock (Joanna Glushak) is a prissy politician’s wife predisposed to loud outbursts and sneaking nips from a flask. Often smiling like an unaware child, Colonel Mustard (David Hess) is laughably unphased by dire circumstances. Mrs. White (Donna English) is an apathetic widow, caring more about money than her deceased physicist husband.

Further lampooning American archetypes, Mr. Green (John Shartzer) is a politician prone to accidents and melodramatic tantrums. Miss Scarlet (Christina Anthony) is a businesswoman in the practice of seducing customers. And despite being an academic, Professor Plum (Jonathan Spivey) does little thinking.

Each guest acts as one of the six playable characters in the original Hasbro game, first given life by the movie’s cast. Performances crafted in the film by the likes of Michael McKean and Christopher Lloyd are earnestly evolved for the stage.

Playing Wadsworth, Jeff Skowron poshly keeps the cast in check. Sporting a pressed suit and cheeky demeanor, Skowron evolves the prudish character established by actor Tim Curry into a high-strung, sassy foil.

The stage’s elegant set design elevates the murder mystery. Ornate chandeliers rise high above the cast as the mansion’s interior is lined to simulate mahogany wood and aged glass windows.

Imitating the multi-room setup of both the film and boardgame, CIBC’s “Clue” adapts to the stationary, single-stage setting. Each wall hides a hidden room behind it, rotating when the plot demands a change in scenery. The result is a massive, ornate dollhouse which invites the ensemble to run amok and tear asunder.

Mr. Green takes the brunt of the stunts — dropping glassware, dragging himself on the floor and collapsing side tables in anxious haste. The rest of the cast isn’t short on physical comedy though, with ensemble members partaking in pratfalls, spit takes and even a waltz during an investigative montage. 

Expertly-timed spotlights and musical cues emphasize the pantomime display. Featuring a tight 90-minute runtime with no intermission, the stagecraft of “Clue” ensures the theatrical frenzy neither skips a step nor outpaces itself.

For fans of the original movie, CIBC’s “Clue” adheres to the same plot, structure and, at times, beat-for-beat line delivery. Though it’s difficult to see how the play could upstage the film, it feels like a wasted opportunity to adapt it so strictly.

The original film is renowned for its twists and turns, but CIBC’s rendition misses the chance to find new ways to surprise. The few variations in story are standout highlights, sparing more minutes with Wadsworth in the mansion’s chaos, giving Mr. Green a reworked backstory and focusing more on the detail of blackmail evidence.

“Clue” is a carefully crafted work of comedy theatre. Its performers commit themselves to gaudy gags and characters, with a complementary set that contrasts mystique. Curious newcomers are bound to be impressed, while longtime fans can enjoy a lively interpretation that respects the source material.

For those seeking a night of irreverent intrigue, CIBC Theatre can “Clue” one in.

“Clue” will run until March 2. Tickets are available online.