Clue, the iconic board game turned cult-classic film, took over HFC’s Carey Theater in a production that left everyone guessing—and laughing—until the very end. The stage was set, the audience eagerly awaited, and the cast delivered a murder mystery full of laughs, plot-twists, and unforgettable line delivery.
For those who are unfamiliar with Clue, the story begins on a stormy night when six eccentric guests are invited to a secluded mansion, Boddy Manor, under mysterious circumstances. Each guest is given a pseudonym to protect their identity: Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, and Mr. Green. Mr. Boddy, the host, reveals that each of them is being blackmailed and provides them with weapons—implying the opportunity for murder. Chaos erupts when Mr. Boddy himself is murdered, and the guests, along with Wadsworth the butler and Yvette the maid, are left scrambling to figure out who among them is the killer. As the night unfolds, secrets are revealed, alliances shift, and additional murders occur…
So, what did the audience think? Let’s go through some key moments during the play that left a lasting impression.
Professor Plum’s “Doctor” Routine: Antonio Negron’s portrayal of Professor Plum brought some hilarious irony to the character’s supposed medical expertise. Each time a character was found dead, Professor Plum confidently appointed himself to make sure they were dead– only to assess their condition by limp-wristedly checking their arm. This running gag had the audience laughing over and over.
Mr. Green’s Comedic Timing: Throughout the play, Mr. Green’s subtle and witty comments surrounding his sexuality had the audience constantly chuckling. In one moment of escalating confusion about who else was in the manor, Colonel Mustard, played by Matthew Cangelosi, demanded a “straight” answer. Mr. Green, played by Ashton Velasquez deadpanned, “Well don’t look at me!” The perfectly delivered line had the audience in tears, although some took a minute to process.
Miss White’s Dark Humor: Marista Lemonis, playing the cold and calculating Mrs. White, delivered some of the play’s most darkly funny lines. In one standout moment, she deadpanned about her many husbands’ mysterious demises. When questioned about her late spouse, she remarked, “His head had been cut off, and so had his, uh… you know.”
Dragging Dead Bodies: One of the most impressive feats from the cast, besides their ability to keep a straight face and stay in character, was their ability to play dead! The actors portraying the “dead” characters were committed to staying limp, creating scenes where their bodies flopped, slid, and bumped around while the rest of the cast scrambled to move them. Edward Silverman’s portrayal of Mr. Boddy and Nadia Dukfield’s portrayal of the Chef were certainly spectacular. Mr. Boddy was frequently dragged around the stage, and in some cases, even kicked. In another scene, the dead chef fell out of a closet and straight onto Mr.Green, where he laid struggling on the ground until someone helped the dead body off of him.
“My Lips Belong to God!”: EnzaMaria Mauceli, who played Miss Peacock, stunned the audience with her dramatic, blood curdling shrieks. But she also brought in laughs with her ironic commentary that punctured many scenes. Her dramatic declaration that her “lips belong to God” was immediately undercut when she pulled a flask of alcohol from her coat, almost immediately after declining a cigarette. “I don’t smoke!” she exclaimed.
Miss Scarlet and Wadsworth’s Bullet Debate: The bickering between Miss Scarlett (played by Thiara Acosta) and Wadsworth (played by Diego Penate) over how many bullets remained in the gun was a hilarious back-and-forth. By the time they figured out if it was one plus two plus one plus one or one plus one plus two plus one, they had forgotten who was holding the gun.
Colonel Mustard’s Cluelessness: Matthew Cangelosi’s portrayal of Colonel Mustard had the audience in stitches with his wonderfully oblivious responses to any situation. Cangelosi’s performance made Colonel Mustard an unforgettable and charming character, even if he was completely incapable of being subtle in front of the cops.
The Cop’s Arrival and the “Romantic” Cover-Up: When the cop arrives and begins to suspect the group’s activities, the characters are forced to think quickly. The result? An absurdly hilarious scene where they staged a passionate romantic tableaux on the couch—while awkwardly trying to hide the dead bodies. This scene brought one of the biggest laughs of the night
Wadsworth’s Rewind Reenactment: Diego Penate’s performance as Wadsworth reached its comedic peak during his rapid-fire reenactment of the evening’s events. To explain the sequence of murders, Wadsworth darted across the stage, miming each character’s actions with incredible energy.
The Ending: In the play’s climactic twist, Mr. Green revealed that he is actually a federal agent. But more shocking than all the plotting, murder, and deceit, the biggest surprise was that Mr. Green was, in fact, straight. The curtains closed on his iconic line: “I’m going home to my wife!”
Audience Verdict
It’s safe to say that HFC’s production of Clue was a success. “Everyone was so good at acting and kept the suspense up till the very, very end,” shared one audience member. “It felt like I was watching a whole movie!”
Many were captivated by the cast’s chemistry and commitment to their roles. “My compliments go out to the actors and actresses! They had such incredible chemistry with one another, and I couldn’t wait to see how it all played out,” another audience member said.
Even those new to Clue were mesmerized. “I thought the play was amazing. I never watched Clue before, so everything was a surprise. I have nothing to complain about,” one attendee remarked.
Favorite moments included the sharp comedic timing and chaotic moments between characters. “My favorite scene was when Miss Scarlet smacked Mrs. Peacock to make her stop screaming,” shared one viewer. Another loved the climactic ending: “My favorite scene was at the end when they all took turns telling what really happened.”
As for standout performances, the audience had plenty to say:
“A character who really stood out to me was Colonel Mustard. He is clearly one of the younger actors in the cast, but he did such a great job, he’s a natural!”
“Obviously besides the Butler (his performance was incredible), Yvette the maid really stood out. The actress did a great job with the accent, and she was just so cute!”
“A character that stood out to me was Professor Plum. He had many great scenes, like when he jumped on the stage. And every time he ‘checked’ if they were dead—I couldn’t stop laughing.”
“My favorite characters were Mr. Green and Miss Scarlet. I laughed every time Mr. Green made some background commentary, and I whenever I looked at Miss Scarlet in a chaotic scene, she was always smacking someone. I loved them.”
The crew also earned its share of applause. “It was so cool. I sat really close, so when the lights went out I could see them carrying the furniture in and out,” one viewer noted. “It came out so good, especially considering how many times they had to do that. They even rolled out another wall.”
The audience agreed: Clue, with its talented cast and creative direction, was brilliantly executed!
