Inspired by the Parker Brothers’ board game, “Clue: A New Story” tells the story of six blackmail victims and a butler locked together in a mansion after discovering a murder. As secrets are revealed and the murder count rises, the group is forced to discover who the murderer is before the police arrive, or before they too become a victim.
40 years later, the 1985 “Clue” movie still has a lasting impact on cinema as a cherished cult classic. As a fan of the movie, I jumped on the chance to see a play adaptation and had big expectations for it. As the lights in the Omaha Orpheum dimmed and the familiar mysterious theme song began to play, I had a feeling that “Clue: A New Comedy” would be amazing, and I was right.
I was relieved that the play followed the movie closely, keeping the same six blackmail guests and a witty butler, Wadsworth. I enjoyed how the play exaggerated some of the movie’s funniest scenes, such as adding slow-motion to a chandelier falling on top of Mr. Green.
Each member of the cast highlighted their character’s personality in a dramatic yet hilariously fitting way, such as Mr. Green’s character presenting himself as extremely timid. Each line added either comic relief or an ominous message, and while some movie events were removed it did not take away from the overall play.
The play takes place in an old creaky mansion in the 1950s, and the old-fashioned set design gave the play a lingering feeling of suspense. Where was the murderer going to strike next? With doors on the side, secret passages in paintings, and evidence hiding in a bookshelf, the knowledge that the guests were locked in a house with twists, turns, and a murderer made it so no one felt safe.
The lighting and sounds were arguably the greatest part of the performance. Sounds such as lightning crashes following the butler’s ominous phrases gave the play a spooky feel, keeping me uneasy even though I knew how the ending played out because of the movie. The lighting grew dim when a murder was about to take place, and lit up to become festive and colorful when the cast danced around the stage while searching the house for clues.
“Clue: A New Comedy” gave the audience a comedic and thrilling mystery that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. The three different endings left us all wondering, just who exactly is guilty? The play truly lived up to the movie’s cherished place in cinema history and was a perfect adaptation of a classic whodunit. There is no mystery about it: “Clue: A New Comedy” was one of the most entertaining plays I have ever seen in my life.
