Little Theater of Mechanicsburg Brings a Board Game to Life in 'Clue: The Musical'

While much of the country is trying to solve the mystery of why there have been so many shark attacks in the Outer Banks this year, Little Theater of Mechanicsburg is busy trying to solve another mystery: Who killed Mr. Boddy?

LTM's production of Clue: The Musical brings the classic Parker Brothers board game to life, adding a unique twist where the audience can help figure out the who, what, and where to solve the mystery. The show is a combination of musical meets game, and the result is 90 minutes of lighthearted suspense, fun music, quality acting, and witty humor.

Upon being seated, audience members are given a clue sheet and pencil to keep track of clues throughout the performance. Early in the show, a pre-selected audience member goes on stage with Mr. Boddy to choose the three cards for that performance. The cards, which contain the solution to the mystery, are put in a large envelope marked confidential that stays on the stage for the duration of the performance, and the game begins.

The Who
Those familiar with the game will quickly recall the six characters: Mrs. Peacock (played by Stephanie Via), Professor Plum (played by Eric Mansilla), Miss Scarlet (played by Amber Zambrana), Mr. Green (played by Ryan Boyles), Mrs. White (played by Danny Sites), and Colonel Mustard (played by Ron Ross).

The What
"Wrench, candlestick, pipe, knife, revolver, rope." This phrase is repeatedly chanted throughout the performance, with the various characters using the weapons in different scenarios.

The Where
The kitchen, the billiard room, the ballroom, the lounge, the study, and the conservatory are depicted by six doors, which individually swing open when a room is in play.

Mr. Boddy (played by Matthew A. Robinson) acts as the host for the evening, presenting clues throughout the show to help solve the mystery. Following Mr. Boddy's murder, a detective (played by Roxanne Hennessy) also joins the scene. At the conclusion of the show, the envelope with the three cards is opened to reveal the murderer, weapon, and room, and audience members can compare their answers to the outcome of the performance. And there might just be a little twist at the end, too.

It's been a few years since I last visited Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg, and I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to get back! As the name implies, the theatre is small, creating a very intimate environment where audience members are just inches away from the action. It's the perfect setting for the interactive nature of Clue: The Musical, really making the audience a part of the game.

With six characters, six weapons, and six rooms in play, there are a total of 216 different ways the game could end, so each performance has a different outcome. I'd love to go back to see the show again and see how it ends at a different performance. However, if the rumors are true, the show is sold out for the remainder of its run through July 5. For more information, visit the LTM website at www.ltmonline.net.