Cranbrook Community Theatre is bringing a classic murder mystery board game to life on the big stage in April.
Clue, the final production of the season, is a suspenseful play filled with lively dialogue, memorable characters and unexpected plot twists. Based on a screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and Sandy Rustin, the play combines elements of the original family game and the 1985 Paramount movie.
The classic tale goes something like this. A few guests gather for a dinner in a luxurious Tudor mansion, but friends turn into suspects when the host is found dead. The group races to find the culprit, but the killer doesn’t intend on being caught and begins to dispose of the amateur detectives one by one.
Clue is directed by Bob McCue, whose creative vision previously brought The Odd Couple, Skin Flick, The Sunshine Boys, Steel Magnolias, Next and, Almost, Maine to the stage.
In an e-mail, McCue described it as a “fast-paced,” play with “witty banter” and a plot that will have viewers on “the edge of your seats or rolling in the aisles.”
Matt Van Boeyen (Wadsworth), Tessie Ward (Yvette), Stephanie Moore (Miss Scarlet), Erin Dalton (Mrs. Peacock), Shannon Edmonstone (Mrs. White), Alexander Gilmour (Colonel Mustard), Trevor Lundy (Professor Plum) and William Nicholson (Mr. Green) star in this thrilling, exciting stage play.
The amateur detectives prowl a lavish home, designed by Landon Elliott and Stephanie Best, with props from Rhonda Sheridan and Amanda Harwood. The characters are decked out in their best party attire from costume designer Sandy Kay. An ensemble consisting of Sanjay Fisk, Nikki Van Boeyen, Michael Prestwich and Sean Cloarec, provide added entertainment. Sandy Ashby is the stage manager.
“Our rehearsals have been filled with hilarity, and our talented cast and crew can’t wait to share this experience with you,” McCue wrote.
Tickets are available online starting March 11 at www.cranbrookcommunitytheatre.com. The show runs April 19 to 20, April 25 to 27 and May 1 to 4 at 7:30 p.m. There is also a matinee on April 28 at 2 p.m.
Sponsors for the 2023-24 season are Mike Paugh, IG Wealth Management, and Victoria Avenue Dental. Additional support came from The Jensen Family Foundation and Sunrise Rotary Club of Cranbrook.