Broadway at the Marcus Center presents CLUE: A NEW COMEDY

By Mary Boyle

The board game Americans know as Clue was invented in the UK by Anthony E. Pratt way back in 1943 during WWII.  Inspired by Agatha Christie murder mysteries, which were terribly popular at the time, the war caused a delay in the release of the game, which didn’t come out until 1949.  The game was known as Cluedo in the UK, and was purchased by Parker Brothers and renamed Clue in the United States.   Now published by Hasbro, the game has evolved many times over the years and continues to be incredibly popular, having inspired books, video games, and the 1985 cult classic film starring Tim Curry, Madaline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and others. 

In 2017, the story was written for the stage by Jonathan Lynn, the original screenwriter, and adapted by Harry Foster, with additional material by Eric Price.  Titled Clue: On Stage, the play starred Sally Struthers and Erin Dilly.  Then, in 2020, Sandy Rustin wrote another adaptation that has launched as a North American Tour in 2024.  The touring show of CLUE: A NEW COMEDY makes its Wisconsin Premier at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee, March 12th through the 17th.

Directed by Casey Hushion, this updated version of the play is essentially the 1985 film played on the stage, but with the constrictions that are inherent to the stage.  The year is 1954 and the place is Boddy Manor in New England, where Wadsworth the butler (Mark Price), Yvette the maid (Elisabeth Yancey), and the cook (Mariah Burks) are preparing to greet a series of guests who were invited to the Manor by their employer, Mr. Boddy (Alex Syiek).  The guests have each been given a pseudonym to protect their identities: Colonel Mustard (John Treacy Egan), Mrs. White (Tari Kelly), Mrs. Peacock (Joanna Glushak), Mr. Green (John Shartzer), Professor Plum (Jonathan Spivey), and Miss Scarlet (Michelle Elaine). 

The guests all have one thing in common: they each have a secret that Mr. Boddy is blackmailing them to keep quiet.  Mr. Body presents each guest with a murder weapon and challenges the 6 of them to get rid of Wadsworth, the butler, who he claims is the one who knows too much.  After turning out the lights, a scuffle ensues, and a gunshot rings out.  When the lights go back on, Mr. Body is dead on the floor, and it is up to those who remain to figure out which one among them is the murderer.

While the film was initially panned by critics and fell short of reclaiming its budget, its popularity grew exponentially over time, and is regularly referenced in pop culture.  With that kind of cult fandom, it makes sense that it was adapted to the stage; the trouble is, nearly every audience member is coming because they loved the movie; they are comparing it to the movie; and, nothing can beat those legendary performances, particularly by Tim Curry and Madaline Kahn, in the film. 

​The play attempts to make up for it by adding a significant amount of physical comedy, particularly by Mr. Green, played by John Shartzer, whose acrobatics and antics are a show within the show.  The scenic design by Lee Savage is brilliant, creating all the various rooms and secret passages of the mansion within the confines of the stage.  Overall, the cast is very strong, but Mark Price as Wadsworth is an absolute wonder.  A delightful, farcical romp, this version of Clue is a fun way to experience the film live or, for those who haven’t seen the film (seriously?!), a great way to introduce yourself to the Clue fandom.
 
CLUE: A NEW COMEDY runs through March 17th at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.MarcusCenter.org, calling 414-273-7206 or by visiting the MPAC Box Office.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District, as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services.  For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
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Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include & Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: TheMusical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.