By JESSICA NEU
Odds are that at some point in your life, you have played at least one round of the iconic Parker Brothers’ board game, Clue. You have selected your suspect, room, and weapon, placed your cards securely in your top-secret envelope, and then proceeded to collect evidence to deduce the actual killer, weapon, and the room where the crime was committed. Were you, like me, always wanting to use the revolver as your playing token? Perhaps you have an affinity for Professor Plum or always wanted to be Miss Scarlet. But how did the game’s characters all arrive in the same spooky mansion equipped with ample weaponry? If they were real people, who would they be? Writer Sandy Rustin and director Casey Hushion develop a cleverly cunning tale surrounding these historic board game characters. Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, Clue Live on Stage! It is a delightfully hysterical and suspenseful murder mystery that will leave you asking “whodunnit,” until the very end.
As the show begins, audiences may feel as if the Benedum has been transformed into a haunted house. For my fellow Disney lovers, there are some serious Haunted Mansion vibes. Set in 1954 at the height of McCarthyism, we hear President Eisenhower questioning whether there are un-American Americans among us. Wadsworth (Adam Brett), the butler, begins to greet guests as they arrive for a dinner party. First is the debonaire yet ditzy Colonel Mustard (Nate Curlott). Next is the stiff, pretentious yet sardonic Mrs. White (Sarah Mackenzie Baron). The ostentatious and boisterous Mrs. Peacock (Madeline Raube) and the anxious and very clumsy Mr. Green (TJ Lamando) also arrive. The seductive vixen Miss Scarlet (Camille Capers) makes her slinky entrance with the dignified Professor Plum (Kyle Yampiro) completing the guest list. Wadsworth tends to the guests with the help of The Cook (AT Sanders) and the French maid, Yvette (Zoie Tannous).
As the party begins, Wadsworth reminds everyone that they are all going by an alias this evening and that no personal information is to be discussed. And with that, “let the game begin!” The guests move about the mansion, venturing from room to room, just as players move their tokens in the board game. Scenic designer Lee Savage brings the board game to life as the guests visit the lounge, the study, the kitchen, the hall, the dining room, the ballroom, the library, and even the billiard room. As Mrs. Peacock dramatically slurps her soup over dinner, the guests find it difficult not to discuss details of their personal lives. They realize that nearly everyone lives in Washington, that Mrs. Peacock is married to a politician, and that Mr. Green is closely aligned with the Republican Party; the latter made for several jokes that drew a favorable response from the audience.
As dinner concludes, the guests mosey into the Hall for after-dinner drinks. Wadsworth begins to explain that each guest was carefully selected to attend this evening – a detail that I will not spoil. The discussion again brings forth the theme of McCarthyism as the characters begin to question each other’s actions, which are “un-American.” The political commentary, while overt, is not heavy-handed. The carefully crafted dialogue creates a tapestry of nostalgia surrounding the classic board game, but also reminds us that history does, in fact, repeat itself, and perhaps this whodunnit comedic farce from the 1950s is not as funny when viewed through the lens of our current moment. Rustin’s script beautifully makes a critical point without ever becoming macabre. Before the arguing goes too far, Wadsworth’s boss, Mr. Boddy (Joseph Dalfonso), arrives. The guests receive gifts, and shortly thereafter, the stage goes dark, and the first murder occurs.
From there, debauchery ensues, and the plot takes more twists and turns than the old West End Circle. The 90-minute show is a fast-paced, dialogue-driven, high-energy murder mystery. Each character is richly developed, and the ensemble flawlessly executes their roles. They are all unique individuals with over-the-top personalities, remarkably nuanced and likeable, especially considering the show’s short runtime. All six dinner guests, along with Wadsworth, have an opportunity to shine, delivering punchlines, one-liners, and physical vignettes reminiscent of classic SNL or even Abbott and Costello. A perfect amount of suspense follows the guests as they desperately try to discern if a killer lurks among them. With clever nods to the board game sprinkled throughout the show, each guest looks for evidence, trying to hilariously draw their own conclusions about who committed the crime, in which room, and with what weapon. All six dinner guests are equally hilarious and endearing with pristine comedic timing, but Brett commands the show as Wadsworth. He is the perfect antagonist, whose narrator-like presence controls the show’s tempo and propels the mystery to the very end. Clue Live on Stage! will make you want to join the fun on stage and go home and play the classic game.
A delightful blend of nostalgia and comedy, this whodunnit mystery is the most fun you will have in any room or theater this New Year’s. Just make sure to leave any weaponry at home.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
The Pittsburgh Cultuiral Trusts’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh’s presentation of Clue is at the Benedum Center through Sunday January 4, 2026. For tickets visit: https://trustarts.org/production/100457/list_performances
Read Sharon Eberson’s interview with CMU alum Adam Brett here:
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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