PERRY — It’s that glorious time of year when the air turns cool and the leaves change color, inevitably turning one’s mind to cozy thoughts of curling up by the fire and reading a murder mystery or playing a board game. A trip to The Heritage Theatre in Perry attempts to capture the essence of such an ideal fall evening with their current production of Clue: The Musical. It is, of course, based on the beloved board game where players try to determine who committed the murder, in what room, and with what weapon. This 90’s musical has a book by Peter DePietro and music by Galen Blum, Wayne Barker, and Vinnie Martucci. The musical adaptation brings the mystery to life, allowing the audience to participate in the investigation. Directed by Bree and Derek Hendricks, this production engaged the audience with its interactive nature, clever use of space, and vibrant character portrayals. Though it had a few rough edges, it was overall an enjoyable evening filled with laughter and intrigue.
Mr. Boddy (Ryan Boam) interacts with the audience and the characters as a narrator, ensuring that each performance is slightly different, as the solution to the murder changes each night. In classic whodunit fashion, each character has a motive, and the clues are scattered throughout the performance in both subtle and obvious ways, giving the audience a chance to solve the mystery before the final reveal. Bree and Derek Hendricks did an excellent job of using Heritage Theatre’s intimate space to its best advantage. The interactive element is fully embraced with fun cards designed by Russell Nelsen and projections by Hannah Ward that help keep the audience engaged and invested in the outcome of the mystery. The audience was carefully watching each interaction during the show to look for the necessary clues because they were promised successful sleuths would be entered into a drawing at the end.
The cast of Clue: The Musical delivered entertaining performances in a very ensemble show that requires each character to pull their weight. Boam was an energetic and mischievous presence throughout the show. His interactions with the audience were playful, and he brought a sense of charm to the role of the ill-fated host. His smooth vocals led the ensemble during the group numbers and commanded attention and focus.
Harmony Gailey as Mrs. Peacock was the standout vocal performer of the evening. Her number “Once a Widow” really showed her vocal prowess. She gives the role the perfect mix of elegance and eccentricity; capturing the character’s high-society airs while still allowing for moments of absurdity. Gailey’s comedic timing, especially in her interactions with Colonel Mustard, was good and her singing voice added a rich dimension to the character.Gary Robertson as Professor Plum brought a more reserved, intellectual energy to his role. His performance was subtle, relying on dry humor and witty remarks to carry his scenes. I particularly liked his number “Seduction Deduction” with Detective (Hannah Atkinson) where they beautifully built the relationship throughout the song in such a way that was very engaging to see if the Professor was going to confess his guilt or his love. Jess Tarbet as Miss Scarlet was every bit as fiery and seductive as the role demands. Tarbet’s performance stood out in her musical numbers, where her voice shone, adding depth to a character who could have easily been one-note.
Sam Bakker as Mrs. White was very funny in an over-the-top drag version of the domestic servant. Mrs. White’s French maid costume has a large bosom and booty crammed into the maid’s uniform, hairy knees over poking out over the stockings, and garish blue eyeshadow and makeup slapped over two days of stubble. It was easy to laugh at the question, “What are you hiding?” when Mrs. White replied, “Whatever it is, it’s well hidden.” Which landed perfectly with the audience. Bakker does have a cockney accent that’s about as accurate as Dick Van Dykes’ in Mary Poppins, but it is pretty consistent and very humorous. Bakker’s vocals had to have a large range and sounded very nice considering how high he had to reach. Nicholas Perez as Mr. Green plays his character like a greasy, used car salesman from Queens and I enjoyed his cahoots with Miss Scarlet as they do a secret handshake together. Luke Merkley as Colonel Mustard played the bumbling military man. In a show with caricatures as extreme, Merkley’s portrayal comes off a little flat and overshadowed by some of the more boisterous performances. This character could be taken to much bigger extremes than Merkley takes it, but his voice is very nice and he makes the character likeable with his undimmed affection for Mrs. Peacock. Finally, Hannah Atkinson as the Detective joins the ensemble after the murder and tied the show together with her dry, no-nonsense portrayal of the investigator.
The musical numbers in “Clue: The Musical” added an extra layer of entertainment to the evening. The ensemble pieces, where the entire cast came together to speculate on the murder or attempt to cover up their own guilt, were lively and well-choreographed to the space. There were a few parts where the harmonies were not quite locked in on the group numbers. But the evening is accompanied by a live band, which adds a nice element to the music. Pianist Jordan Martineau does a particularly great job keeping the show together with his talents on the ivories.
The scenic design by Derek Hendricks and Jess Tarbet was a standout element. The set was one of the most impressive I have seen on this small community theatre stage. Using a turntable, the set was divided into three sections, with only one section facing the audience at a time. Then the walls of each section were actually reversible, so what would be three rooms, could actually flip walls and become six. This made it possible to make all six possible murder rooms distinct and recognizable. This design allowed for smooth transitions between scenes, keeping the mansion’s different rooms easily distinguishable. Around the proscenium arch was the classic yellow of the hallways, divided into squares, just like the board game. Each character had a giant character token that was moved into the scene. Boxes painted like giant red dice were used as tables or other furniture, keeping the audience tuned into the fact that we were inside the game.
The costumes by Becky Montgomery and Amber Beecher helped bring the world of “Clue” to life, allowing the audience to easily identify each character and their personality traits before they even spoke. Each character was dressed in their iconic colors from the board game, but the designers added thoughtful details that gave the costumes depth and character. Colonel Mustard sported a military-inspired ensemble that perfectly suited his blustering personality, while Miss Scarlet was glamorous in a vibrant red gown that captured her sultry charm. Professor Plum was appropriately intellectual in a smart cardigan and bow tie.
“Clue: The Musical” at Heritage Theatre was a fun, interactive evening of mystery and comedy. While the pacing had its occasional hiccups and there were a few issues with the mics that are a typical annoyance in small theatre settings, the overall production was enjoyable. The direction, design, and the talented cast made this a production worth seeing, especially for fans of the original board game or those who enjoy a good whodunit on a beautiful fall evening.
