Impressive and very entertaining.
That about sums up the Gallatin Theater League’s production of “Clue: The Musical” set to be presented later this week at the Courter Theater in downtown Gallatin. But be warned: if you’re a fan of the mystery board game, you might never look at it the same way again.
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
“Who, where and how?” are the questions to be answered in the Gallatin Theater League’s production of “Clue: The Musical,” which will be performed this week at the Courter Theater in downtown Gallatin. Cast members include, from left, Annie Gibson at Miss Scarlett; Jackie Nichols as Mrs. Peacock; Emily Anderson as Mrs. White; Dimitri Dickerson as Mr. Boddy; Phil Barnard as the detective; Erin Stith as Miss Green; Doug Nichols as Col. Mustard; and Emily Miller at Professor Plum. The play is directed by Brad Dush, with Elizabeth Plottner serving as the musical director.
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The characters in the game – Mr. Boddy, Col. Mustard, Miss Green, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs.White, Miss Scarlett and the detective – seem to come to life on the stage as the clues are whittled down one by one to not only determine “who dun it” but also where they did it and what instrument they used to facilitate the death.
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
There are many items that can be used to commit a murder – and this group has thought of them all! Pictured are, from left, Mrs. Peacock (Jackie White), Professor Plum (Emily Miller), Miss Green (Erin Stith), Miss Scarlett (Annie Gibson), Col. Mustard (Doug Nichols) and Mrs. White (Emily Anderson).
The personalities of each character shine through as the audience learns why each one of them had a motive to “take out” Mr. Boddy, played by Dimitri Dickerson. Was it the senile Col. Mustard (Doug Nichols), the step-father of the victim? The fast-talking simile-confusing Miss Green (Erin Stith), who might have swindled Mr. Boddy out of a lot of money? Mrs. Peacock (Jackie Nichols), a gold-digging widow several times over now married to the victim but who seems to carry a flame for the colonel? Professor Plum, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., (Emily Miller), who may or may not be who she says she is? Miss Scarlett (Annie Gibson), the femme fatale entertainer who shares a secret past with Miss Green? or Mrs. White (Emily Anderson), the English maid who feels she has put up with enough of Mr. Boddy’s low wages, poor living conditions and demanding ways? It’s up to the detective (Phil Barnard) – and the audience – to unravel the mystery and bring the perpetrator to justice.
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
It looks the detective (Phil Barnard) is getting interrogated by his suspects, from left, Mrs. White (Emily Anderson), Mrs. Peacock (Jackie Nichols) and Miss Scarlett (Annie Gibson).
The play begins with three audience members asked to draw the cards so familiar to those who play the Parker Brothers game – one draws a card to determine the killer; one draws to determine the location; and one draws to determine the instrument used. Only then, backstage, does the cast find out how the play will proceed – there are 216 possible combinations – and the show gets under way. Director Brad Dush said the actors had to learn multiple versions of the script depending on the cards drawn.
“They didn’t have to learn 216 possible endings,” he said. “But depending on what cards are drawn, the script does change, there are lines that change.”
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
Mr. Boddy (Dimitri Dickerson), left, and the detective (Phil Barnard) look over the clues in “Clue: The Musical.”
And remember, there are three performances, so that’s a lot of possible changes over the three-performance run.
Dush said the cast and crew began working on the play following the GTL’s performance of “Long Tall Lester Or…..The Fastest Encyclopedia Salesman in the West” during the Daviess County Chautauqua in mid-September. The majority of their time together has been spent working on the music, directed by Elizabeth Plottner, and their efforts definitely showed in Sunday night’s dress rehearsal. The music is upbeat, sometimes slightly bawdy and sticks in your head. Again, if you’re a player of the game, this is a performance that will be in your mind every time you set up the board and draw your cards.
R-T Photo/Ronda Lickteig
The cast and crew of “Clue: The Musical” has been working since September of the production.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A limited number of tickets are still available at Eleine’s Beauty Shop, located at 111 N. Main St., in Gallatin.
