I firmly believe that the best gifts to loved ones are experiences that you can share together. It was in this spirit that I bought two tickets for “Clue: Live On Stage!” as a Christmas present for my mom. But by the time April rolled around, I had almost forgotten about the upcoming event. Class registration was coming up, the impending doom of finals was just around the corner, and, oh yes, the world was completely falling apart.
Luckily, myself from five months ago must have suspected I would need a little pick-me-up right around now. “Clue” certainly delivered, with a thoroughly delightful production guaranteed to lift almost anyone’s spirits.
Despite having lived in Worcester for nearly a year, this was my first time visiting the Hanover Theater. Built-in 1902, the Hanover served as a performing arts venue before becoming a Showcase Cinema in 1967. The theater closed its doors from 1998 to 2008 when it reopened after extensive restoration and renovation, including the addition of a brand-new lobby. Inside, the theater is a magnificent example of early 20th-century architecture, and with a capacity of just 2,300 seats, it still retains the intimacy of small-city theaters.
Today, the Hanover hosts a wide variety of shows and acts, including Broadway tours, tribute bands, comedy shows, and even “Fraggle Rock: Live!” And on the first weekend of April, they welcomed the national tour of “Clue: Live On Stage!”
“Clue” was adapted for the stage in 2017 and is based on the 1985 cult classic movie. The movie itself was based on the beloved 1943 board game. The story follows six characters invited to a dinner party by the mysterious Mr. Boddy, who is revealed to have been blackmailing his guests for months for various dirty secrets. When the lights go out, and their host is found dead, the guests, along with butler Wadsworth, must solve the mystery before the cops arrive. The play is set against the backdrop of the 1950s Red Scare and McCarthyism, which lends a surprising layer of depth to the character’s hilariously over-the-top paranoia and suspicion of each other.
There are many twists and turns along the way, which keeps the play fast-paced and full of energy. Straight plays often fall into the trap of keeping their actors stationary, rendering the production static and boring. “Clue,” however, was constantly in motion. The production made great use of the actors’ stellar physical comedy skills, particularly with actor John Shartzer, who played Mr. Greene, who was constantly tripping, rolling and flipping about the stage. All the actors delivered spectacular performances, completely committing themselves to their over-exaggerated caricatures with no reservations. A stand-out for me was David Hess’s performance as the charmingly oafish and dense Colonel Mustard.
The real star of “Clue,” however, was the set. Translating a board game with nine different rooms may seem like a daunting task, but the set designers of the production did not disappoint. The primary room in the set was the manor’s lobby. Each of the other locations was set on a swivel track on the sides of the stage, meaning rooms like the study and library were rolled on and off the stage with ease. The set included lots of other creative bells and whistles, such as secret passageways and falling chandeliers. It’s truly a testament to the talent and creativity of the production’s crew that such an elaborate set was on a touring show.
Overall, I absolutely loved this production. It was a truly charming, hilarious and creative play bursting with talent and energy. Shows like this remind me why I love theater and are the perfect medicine for the blues. “Clue: Live On Stage!” is continuing its nationwide tour, and if it happens to visit a city near you, I highly encourage a visit.
