Berkshire on Stage

by Dan Mayer

There are few adaptations of board games to the stage and screen, and still fewer that are any good. The 1985 film Clue was an under-seen comedy gem that gained a cult following thanks to its sharp humor and stellar cast. The stage adaptation by Sandy Rustin broadens the comedy and heightens the chaos, and Home Made Theater‘s new production gives audiences a mess of a mystery that may leave them scratching their heads.

The premise is the same as the film: six strangers are invited to a mysterious mansion, all of them are secretly being blackmailed, and all of them have motive for the murder plot that unfolds. Rustin’s script keeps the same campy tone, much of the plot structure, and several of the jokes, but there are still a few surprises in store. The biggest difference is that the characters are far more exaggerated: Colonel Mustard is dumber, Mrs. Peacock is more obnoxious, Mr. Green is more flamboyant, and so on. It’s a reasonable choice for the stage where there’s less room for subtlety in the performances, but the humor likely won’t play as well for fans of the film.

Speaking of performances, the cast rose well to the occasion on opening night, bringing exactly the kind of absurdity and manic energy that the script calls for. Michael Ciaravella (Wadsworth) is the central tent pole holding the canvas of this circus together, and he excels at capturing the wit and charm of the character while also being run through a gauntlet of slapstick, especially in the final scene. Barbara Pyndus (Mrs. Peacock) has a singular swagger and pinched vocal delivery that make her exceptionally unlikable; it’s the kind of characterization that’s only tolerable in small doses, but works well in a cast this large. Another unexpected stand-out performance came from Evan Couchman (Mr. Boddy / Chief-of-Police), whose smooth voice and bravado made Boddy and the Chief far more memorable than they needed to be.

The set design (Pete Benfey, Vicki Hart) is surprisingly effective given the massive challenge that the mansion setting presents, with no less than a dozen rooms for the action to move through over the course of the show. The facade of the mansion’s entryway and walls are beautifully detailed. The scene transitions are a fun show in themselves, with swiftness and humor of their own. The cast and crew have an intricate dance to perform with the various doors and furniture, sometimes literally. There were a few awkward moments when props stayed on stage too long or it was unclear where the walls were meant to be, but for the most part the sets were believable and there was little downtime between scenes.

The lighting design (Violet Noxon, Matt Kopans) and sound design (Anne-Marie Baker, Tom Moeller) were very fitting for a campy murder mystery atmosphere. The sound cues had a similar sensibility to the script, which seems to approach comedy as a quantity-over-quality art form. The frequent dramatic music spikes usually complemented the actors’ over-the-top deliveries. Things like the repeated fart gags were less effective, and the inclusion of a famous sound effect from The Legend of Zelda felt a bit out of place, though maybe that was the intention.

Comedy demands very specific timing, and there were times when the show fell short in this regard. Sound cues meant to punctuate jokes would sometimes step on the line deliveries of the actors, or vice versa. The cast also felt out of sync at times, with some jokes in the dialogue feeling rushed while others were left with too much silence, and not all of the talking over one another seemed intentional. There were plenty of laughs to be had, but just as many moments where the humor fell flat.

In all, Home Made Theater’s Clue is sort of a mixed bag. The script naturally invites comparisons to the film, of which I have long been a huge fan, and that ultimately hurt my enjoyment of this show. There is plenty to praise here, especially in regard to the production quality, but it’s hard to recommend a comedy that so rarely made me laugh. Fans of the original board game or of murder mystery farce in general will likely enjoy themselves, but whether the comedy kills you or simply bludgeons you with a candlestick is a matter of personal taste.

Home Made Theater presents Clue by Sandy Rustin (based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price), directed by Shane Sczepankowski, runs from October 9 – 18, 2026, at Saratoga Music Hall, 474 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Cast: Michael Ciaravella as Wadsworth, Cadence Keller as Yvette, Allison Schmitt as Miss Scarlet, Barbara Pyndus as Mrs. Peacock, Rachel Newman as Mrs. White, Chelli Lopez as Colonel Mustard, Oli Rose Coyle as Professor Plum, David Skeele as Mr. Green, Alina Acevedo as Cop / Vanna White, Evan Couchman as Mr. Boddy / Chief-of-Police, and Stevie Lynn Maynard as Cook / Motorist / Singing Telegram Girl / Cop.

Produced by: Emily Bryan and Karla Williams Buettner. Stage Manager: Zachary Kenney. Stage Crew: Peter Burleigh. Scenic Designers: Pete Benfey and Vicki Hart. Scenic Assistants: Cindy Auer, Dan Auer, Peter Burleigh, Tim Christensen, George Doherty, Sean Farrington, Mary Goralski, Caitlin Hart, Sarah Hart, Zach Hart, Dune Mayberger, Julie Slovic, Roy Swonger. Costume Designer: Patti Jolie. Properties Designer: Amy Ciaravella. Sound Designers: Anne-Marie Baker, Tom Moeller. Lighting Designers: Violet Noxon, Matt Kopans. Light Board Operator: Jacob Pickett. Artistic Liaison: Jonathan Hefter. Prompter Coordinator: Margie Price. Prompters: Mary Ellen Dowling, Renee Fred, Jane Greiner, Jenny Killian, Diane Leske, Margie Price, Roy Swonger. Printing Service: Steve Linton, SUNY Empire Print Shop. House Managers: Diane Turo, Maura Pickett.

Performance dates are Friday – Sunday, Oct. 9-11 and 16-18. Friday and Saturday curtains are at 7:00 pm, and Sundays are matinees at 2:00 pm. Pre-show “Mocktail Hour” begins at 6pm sharp on Fridays & Saturdays, and 1pm sharp on Sundays. Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors, or $20 for students. Runs approximately 80 minutes without intermission. Tickets are available online. Visit https://homemadetheater.ludus.com for more information.