A dark and stormy night outside a lush mansion on Van Duzer Theater’s stage sets the melodramatic tone for Cal Poly Humboldt’s Department of Dance, Music and Theatre production of Clue by Sandy Rustin. The madcap, stylized parlor game whodunit is based on the movie of the same title, which was inspired by the board game Clue, which was inspired by the murder mystery post-dinner parlor games popularized in the early 1900s. This Mobius-strip of amusement is reflected in the twisting plot and flowing action on stage.
Set during the 1950s Red Scare era “not too far from Washington D.C.,” according to the program, six guests are invited to a dinner party to partake in a game of intrigue by an unknown host. The staff of the rural mansion — the cook (Aly Greaver), the maid Yvette (Maddy Arsich) and the butler Wadsworth (Jeremy Webb) — prepare for a seemingly ordinary dinner party. When each guest makes their entrance, the butler greets them by the alias assigned to them for the evening, among them Miss Scarlet (Aubrey O’Leary), Col. Mustard (Stephan Chittenden) and Mr. Green (Ali Laith). As they mingle and dine, they drop little clues about themselves. After dinner, they finally meet the mysterious host Mr. Boddy (Fletcher Edwards), who reveals the true, sinister nature of the gathering: money and murder. He gives each guest a murder weapon and a missive — kill the butler, or face extortion at triple the price. The lights go out and chaos ensues. When the lights come back, the first body is found: Mr. Boddy himself. Staff and guests must work together and against each other as the bodies pile up to figure out who the real murderer is. The clock is ticking — they only have an hour to find the culprit (and clear themselves) before the cops arrive.
Directed by Eliza Klinger and Peggy Metzger, the huge cast meets the challenge of keeping the energy high and the action tight. The choreography is varied, funny and self-aware in the best ways. Complex scene changes are carried out smartly by the cast. The dinner scene is the only one that didn’t quite land for me. It’s entirely understandable — eating and drinking without food or water is one of the most difficult scenes to sell. Anything lacking on that account is well made up for with the way the actors are able to switch between tight synchronization and chaos in a crowded space without losing the flavor of their characters. Most importantly, everyone is clearly having a great time with their characters and the story. That kind of positive energy is perceived and reciprocated by the audience for a mutually enjoyable show.
The set design by Robert Pickering is rich with a clear homage to the classic board game. The costumes by Marissa Menezes are iconic. Props to the props designer Cora Shimetz for the “murder weapons” that look like life-sized game pieces.
“Clue” is a thoroughly enjoyable experience full of humor and fun. I applaud the hard work of the students and am glad I could be a small part of their university experience. Maybe one day I’ll be able to say of some of them, “I knew them when … .”
Performances of Clue continue at the Van Duzer Theatre Friday and Saturday, April 4- 5, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, at 2 p.m. Visit tickets.humboldt.edu/dance-music-and-theatre.
Doranna Benker Gilkey (she/her) is a longtime Humboldt County resident and can often be found at her store Dandar’s Boardgames and Books in Arcata.
NOW PLAYING
Redwood Curtain Theatre Co.’s POTUS Or, Behind Every Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is at 5th and D Street Theater through April 6 with 8 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Visit ncrt.net.
This article appears in Taco Week 2025.