A show called CLUE The Musical either has to be exceptionally unique or absolutely horrible. Being based on the classic children’s board game doesn’t contribute much to a middle ground for the show. Fortunately, the show turned out to lean more toward the exceptionally unique side.
One of the more interesting facets of the show was that it included audience participation—three audience members were selected to choose the cards for the game: the room, weapon, and murderer. Additionally, the back of the program was a game sheet to play along with and record clues.
Clues were given during both acts of the show. During both acts, a clue was presented at the end of three scenes in verse. The first act’s clues were more of the logic puzzle variety, while the second act’s clues helped to narrow down the remaining choices.
As you may have already guessed, there are multiple endings for the show—216 endings to be exact. The clues also had to be adjusted depending on what the final outcome was going to be. The resulting show was a lot of fun, and the actors had a lot of energy.
Contributing to the uniqueness of the show, the pit was integrated with the cast. Members of the band actually interacted with the actors of the show, adding to the air of the unexpected that seemed to be par for the show.
Of the actors, Scott G. Truesdell as Mr. Boddy and Jillian M. Dion as the detective were particularly impressive. Truesdell seemed to have mastered the sadistic quality that Mr. Boddy possessed and really sparkled in moving the show along.
In the second act, Dion contributed to the flow of the show, bringing a quirky kind of humor. The way that she brandished mixed clichés with authority and conviction was particularly enjoyable.
Other actors that deserve note are Jonathan Janssen as Professor Plum and Jodi Smits Anderson as Mrs. White who each contributed a lot to the psychopathic cast that was clearly out of the board game.
Also contributing to the board game feel of the show was the set. Upon first look it seemed to be incredibly simple. There were a few pillars that had pieces of rooms painted on them, a box on wheels, and a black backdrop. A panel with the board from the game descended from the ceiling to help the audience keep track of where each scene was taking place.
As the show progressed, the pillars were rearranged to provide a backdrop for the scenes. While appearing simple, it’s difficult not to appreciate the way it all came together to effectively make the rapid transitions. They were also very versatile in the murder scene, when the characters were running from room to room, looking to kill Mr. Boddy.
Like all good shows, there was a twist to the ending after the solution to the game was revealed.
Is the show worth seeing? Definitely. Tickets are $5 for RPI students and Alpha Psi Omega members, $8 for students and seniors, and $10 for general admission. There will be shows at 8 pm this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. For reservations and more information, call 276-6503.
