A board game that sings and dances: ‘Clue, The Musical’

Just as Marvel Comics spawned blockbuster action movies and a theme ride at Disneyland gave us Capt. Jack Sparrow, Parker Brothers’ board game “Clue” has grown human bodies that sing, dance and act.

First produced Off Broadway in 1997, “Clue, The Musical” has become a popular musical comedy staple for schools and community theaters. With its traditional cast of suspects, detectives and murderers, “Clue” is familiar to anyone who has pondered “who done it,” where” and with “what” weapon. Was it Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard or, better yet, Miss Scarlet in the kitchen with a candelabra?

In the Idyllwild Master Chorale presentation, just as with the board game, audience members are asked to vote on suspect, murder room and weapon.

Several rooms included in the board game, notably the library, hall and dining room, are eliminated in the musical, and the dramatic action and audience sleuths more closely focus on motive.

When asked why she chose “Clue, The Musical” for this summer’s IMC production, Director Lisa Furugen said she wanted a smaller, more intimate, musical and the audience-interaction piece intrigued her. “I’ve got a great cast and live musicians, not pre-recorded tracks,” she said. “If you liked the board game, come for the jokes and sight gags. If you don’t know the game, come for the mystery and the pure fun of it.”

And as is usual with the production, casting notes indicate Mrs. White should be played by a man, in this case Robert Peek, who will not likely be packing nor be in park uniform.

IMC Conductor/ Musical Director Dwight “Buzz” Holmes is “Clue” musical director; Furugen also choreographed and designed the set; and the cast includes Larry Kawano as Mr. Boddy, Steve Kunkle as Colonel Mustard, Mike Sebastian as Professor Plum, Betty Anderson as Miss Scarlet, Barbara Rayliss and Phyllis Currington-Brown alternating as Mrs. Peacock, Peek as Mrs. White, Chic Fojtik as Mr. Green, Stacey Grant as the detective, and Christina Edwards and Debbie Overman as the maids.

Clue opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, and continues at the same time Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15, at the Idyllwild School gym. Matinee performances are 1 p.m. Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16.

Tickets are available online at the IMC website (IdyllwildMasterChorale.com), at Prairie Dove and at the door. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $10 for students.
Soroptimist International of Idyllwild co-sponsors the production and provides refreshments, the sales of which furnish scholarships for women.