By Michelle Kinsey—
MUNCIE, Ind.— Who did it? Where? And with what?
Those are the questions audiences will be asking as the mystery unfolds—and hilarity ensues -in Muncie Civic’s production of “Clue.”
Civic will present “Clue” on its mainstage Oct. 1-10. The Oct. 3 and Oct. 7 performances will require masks. At all other performances masks are optional. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will be at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:30 p.m.
The play is based on the now cult classic 1985 murder mystery comedy film, which was an ode to the popular board game.
Our game, er, story begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects and the race is on to find the killer as the body count grows.
“The show follows the movie very closely, with a couple of minor changes,” said director Robby Tompkins. “We’re using every inch of the stage to bring these rooms to life. While we can’t have all of the rooms fully built with doors and walls, we get the feel of the mansion while these zany characters run around and try not to get killed.”
Of course, the characters we are referring to are Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard.
Tompkins said signing on as director was a no-brainer. “I’ve played the game growing up and I’ve been a fan of the movie ever since it came out, so when I heard there was an adapted stage version coming to Muncie Civic, it was an automatic ‘Yes!’ to agree to direct this production,” he said.
The cast, he said, is a nice mix of Civic veterans and newbies. “One of our actors just moved here in June, for instance, and we love welcoming new folks to our theater family,” he said. “Our running joke about the main actors is ‘a pastor, a banker, two teachers, a real estate agent, a nurse, and a mailman walk into a creepy old mansion. …’ The energy and talent each of them bring to their roles has been so much fun to see grow and develop. They are fantastic!”
And Tompkins thinks now is the perfect time for audiences to, well, get a “Clue.”
“I don’t know about you, but more than ever these days, we all need a good laugh,” Tompkins said. “I wish for the audience to enjoy a little bit of nostalgia, relax, and have some big smiles with us.”
For tickets and more information, call 288-PLAY or go to www.munciecivic.org.
