Clue brings murder, mystery and mayhem to Syracuse

At the Landmark Theatre, everyone is a suspect. The North American Clue tour made its second stop in Syracuse and showed the audience a bloody good time.

Clue is based on the classic board game of the same name and welcomes audiences to Boddy Manor, a grand mansion full of secrets. The inhabitants of the manor include humble butler Wadsworth and an array of colorful guests like Mr. Green and Mrs. Peacock.

Within the first few minutes of the show, the characters learn that everything is not what it seems at the manor, as more secrets — and bodies — start to pile up.

While the characters of Clue are killed off one by one, the true killer of the show is the script itself. The book is nowhere near horrendous, and the plot can move at a fast yet understandable pace, but the jokes in the show are either hit or miss.

One second, the semi-sexual banter between Miss Scarlett and Professor Plum will have audience members laughing, and the next, they’ll be questioning why a show meant to take place in 1954 sets up jokes to match modern-day politics.

Perhaps the most fitting word to describe the show is “campy,” and while the script may fall flat at times, the show does a good job of not taking itself too seriously.

The best parts of the show are found within the physical comedy performed by the cast and their ability to play along with one another.

One of the show’s most memorable moments takes place in the dining room, when all of the characters line up to press their wine glasses and ears to the door, trying to hear a conversation happening in the hall. Attempting to join in on the fun, Colonel Mustard instead turns his glass in the opposite direction of the door, hitting it lightly throughout the scene in an attempt to get it to work.

Another aspect of physicality that elevates the play is its use of ensemble choreography, particularly when the characters are moving throughout the manor. Not only is it entertaining to watch the leads run and turn in tandem, but it also serves as a way to inform the audience that the characters are moving from room to room.

Through these choreographed elements, the cast is able to make use of the whole stage, allowing all audience members to get a clear view of different scenes throughout the show. This aspect is only aided by the impressive set, which features collapsible set pieces that are quickly brought on and offstage to mimic different rooms in the manor.

While each cast member does an impressive job of bringing a board game figure to life, the standout performance of the show is from a character not in the original game at all.

Adam Brett as Wadsworth (a character initially introduced in the 1985 movie and played by Tim Curry) undoubtedly steals the show as the lead, as Brett is able to balance the more mysterious and eccentric sides of the butler. One scene in the third act features Wadsworth performing a three-minute monologue recapping the events of the show so far, complete with impressive physicality and impressions of other characters; Brett received a round of mid-scene applause from the audience.

Even though some of the jokes within the show do not fully resonate with the audience, the twist-filled Clue is sure to provide a fun and nostalgic night at the theater, provided that you don’t take it too seriously.

Clue is playing at the Landmark Theatre through Saturday, with tickets available here.