The beloved board game, “Clue,” has been a household staple since its first release in 1949. “Clue” depicts a dinner party gone wrong, and the player must find out who killed the victim in which room and with what weapon. 

While the game is originally set in a mansion, it has been adapted many times over the years to have different settings, even set at a carnival. Other adaptations of the board game include a movie in 1985, a musical in 1997, and a play in 2018. Recently, the Pollard Theater in Guthrie, Oklahoma, produced “Clue: The Musical” and ran the show from March 10 to April 1. 

The show starts with Mr. Boddy (the host) explaining to the audience that by the end of the night one of his dinner guests will murder him, and it is up to them to find out who is the culprit. The guests are then revealed to be Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White and Mr. Green. After everyone has been introduced, Boddy goes on to show each one in a different room, their motivations for killing him and which weapon they had at hand. Throughout the show, Boddy gives the audience several clues as to how he will meet his fate. After Boddy is killed, a detective is brought in who then questions each dinner party member, and everyone denies their involvement. Finally the “ghost” of Boddy and the Detective find the criminal and take them away.

The whole musical is meant to be interactive, with audience members being allowed to go onstage and select cards that hold the who, where and what. Viewers are also given a paper detailing all the different objects so that they can eliminate potential outcomes based on Boddy’s clues throughout the show. The best part of the show was how immersive it felt because it seemed as if one was right there with the actors solving the crime.

The acting was also excellent as each actor embodied the character that they were portraying. Maddy Mae Billings did a magnificent job portraying her character. Even when she was in the background of a scene, her facial expressions fell in line with the way Miss Scarlet would act. The musical talents of the cast was also phenomenal. Polyphony (one actor singing over another) is used many times throughout the show, which can become confusing if not performed correctly. However, each line was clear and distinct, and when the actors finally matched up, it felt magical.

If one has seen “Clue: the play” or “Clue: the movie” they will be pleasantly surprised by the musical adaptation. While the play and movie both follow the same structure, with many more characters and more of a story being told, the musical is a bit different. The only visitor to the house in the musical is the Detective, and Boddy is the only one who dies. In addition, the musical follows closely with the board game, urging audience members to figure everything out before the show ends.

Even though the show has finished its run, I hope to see more theater’s putting on their own production.

Contact Adeline Gruen at [email protected]