Theater Review / Who dunnit? Find your fun-filled ‘Clue’ at the Waterfront Playhouse’s latest production

BY TERRY SCHMIDA

KONK LIFE THEATER EDITOR

A creepy old mansion riddled with secret passages; an enigmatic and disparate group of party guests with names like “Mustard,” and “Peacock.”

Blackmail, and cold-blooded murder!

If reading the above brings you back to “games day” on a rainy weekend at the cottage, it’s because we’re discussing “Clue,” the beloved Parker Brothers board game that’s birthed a 1985 feature film, and now “Clue” the theatrical production – currently playing at the Waterfront Playhouse.

The year is 1954.

In Red Scare-era America politicians such as Richard Nixon and Joe McCarthy are making their bones exposing and denouncing the communist menace in their midst – and it’s beginning to take a toll on the civilian population.

At a remote and rambling country house somewhere in New England, a group of mysterious strangers connected to each other through the political blackmail and blacklisting of the times, meet for a dinner party like no other.

Though all six of the invited guests are given pseudonyms to use by the home’s butler Wadsworth, (the agile Michael A. Aagland,) it soon becomes clear that some may already know each other, and that they’re ALL being blackmailed by the reprehensible Mr. Boddy (Zachary Franchini,) who owns the estate.

In addition to war profiteer Colonel Mustard (Ross Pipkin,) all the characters from the original game are here, including black widow Mrs. White (Erin McKenna,) defrocked doctor Professor Plum (John McDonald,) senator’s wife Mrs. Peacock (Barbara Mundy,) closeted gay man Mr. Green (Mathias Maloff,) and the madam Miss Scarlet (Susannah Wells.)

Rounding out this superb cast are Jillian Todd, who plays the French maid Yvette, and Carolyn Cooper, who does double duty as both the somewhat scary cook, and an exuberant singing telegram girl.

Clearly, everyone at the house has secrets to hide – and maybe even kill for. Once they start dying off one at a time, the film version’s repeated truth, that blackmail based on “communism is a red herring,” becomes apparent, and actual motivations reveal themselves.

Add in the traditional lethal weapons such as a revolver, wrench, lead pipe, noose, candlestick, and dagger, and the scene is set for a zany murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. (And those who have seen film version will have to guess which one of its three endings writer Sandy Rustin adapted from Jonathan Lynn’s original screenplay.)

While this is a black comedy, with plenty of slapstick puns and nods to films like “Murder By Death,” the plot line is also an affectionate homage to crime capers of the past, especially Agatha Christie’s classic “Murder on the Orient Express.” 

A great cast, fantastic sets by Michael Boyer, and crack direction from the Waterfront’s Tom Thayer, make this production a winner.

Get a clue, and go see it!

“Clue” runs through March 5 at the Waterfront Playhouse, 407 Wall St., in Mallory Square. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, patrons are requested to bring proof of vaccination, and wear a face mask during the performance.

For tickets or more information, call 305-394-7445. Or visit https://www.waterfrontplayhouse.org/

 Terry Schmida is a Key West true crime writer and an agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Knight & Gardner Realty. Contact him at 305-896-3387 or [email protected]

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