BEMIDJI — It’s been quite the journey for the board game Clue.
First, it was a murder-mystery game released in 1949. Then, in 1985, it became a film starring comedic actors Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd and Madeline Khan. In 1997, it became a musical. Then, in 2017, along came a stage adaptation of the 1985 film.
Bemidji Community Theater will tackle that adaptation Jan. 30-Feb. 1 and Feb. 6-8. Director Derrick Houle told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show the premise is simple: “It's about whodunit, where and with what.”
People familiar with the game will recognize the names: Mrs. Peacock, Col. Mustard, Ms. Scarlett, Mrs. White, Mr. Green and Professor Plum.
All of them are being blackmailed by Mr. Body and invited to Body Manor. The butler, Wadsworth, is there to guide them through the night’s festivities.
The show is a high-energy comedy with witty one-liners, slapstick humor and a mystery that will leave audiences guessing until the final scene.
Houle said a Bemidji Community Theater supporter suggested the show. After dark dramas for the last three years, Houle felt it was time to tackle a comedy again.
After directing plays like Misery and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Houle said some might think he's taking it easy doing a comedy like Clue. He couldn’t disagree more.
“I would say that comedies are probably the hardest thing to do," he said. " ... Because there is so much timing, you have to hit the cue line. ... And if you miss it, everybody sees it.”
Houle said audiences can expect complete chaos during the show. The characters are silly, and the situations they find themselves in become more manic as the show goes on.
A staple of the game Clue is the number of rooms involved. That introduced some unique challenges for Houle’s production design.
“I'll say the set has been a nightmare for me,” he said.
There are seven rooms, and this show was originally designed with a large stage with a fly system in mind. A fly system is a rigging system using cables and pulleys to drop and raise scenery and curtains.
They don't not have a fly system, so Houle had to get creative to incorporate all seven rooms on stage at once. Audiences can expect the cast to travel all around the theater.
While the show is based on the 1985 film, there are slight differences to make it theater-friendly. Houle said he had never seen the film until about four months ago, after the show was already selected. He may get ideas from it, but he adds his own spin to the production.
“My influence from British humor, Canadian humor and Mel Brooks — I incorporate that into a lot of farces that I do just because it's been such an influence in me," he said. "I can't escape from it.”
The cast is made up of people Houle has worked with for years, and actors he’s working with for the first time during this show. He welcomes that mix.
“There were only two parts that I hoped [actors I knew] would come, because I'd really like them to play this part," Houle said. "Other than that, it was wide open, and so, I welcomed new blood.
"We need new blood because [I'm] not going to always be doing this, and younger people need to carry it on.”
As for what Houle hopes audiences take away from the show, he gave a surprising answer.
“Nothing. I even wrote in my director's note, ‘There is no lesson to be taught. No morals to impart,'" he said. "I just want people to laugh for a couple hours because I think we could all use a good laugh.”
Tickets for Clue are available at the Bemidji Community Theater website and at Ken K. Thompson Jewelry and McKenzie Place. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
