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Regional Reviews: San Francisco/North Bay


Clue
National Tour
Review by Patrick Thomas

Also see Patrick's review of Yaga


The Cast
Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
In these last two weeks leading up to the election, it seems clear that virtually everyone is in a state of anxiety, in part because both parties are claiming a victory by their opponent will mean the end of democracy in America. One candidate even claims that if he loses it will lead to another great depression and World War III. There are many ways to deal with anxiety–alcohol, Xanax, binge eating, meditation–but if you're seeking a sure-fire escape from an encroaching sense of foreboding, may I recommend a visit to the Curran for a dose of Clue. I'd seen the play twice before and didn't cared much for it–until last night, when a stellar cast of actors working on a gorgeous set (by Lee Savage) with "rooms" that rotate in and out of scenes, and backdrops that descend from the fly space as needed, showed me how much of a difference stunningly executed physical comedy and precise comic timing can make.

Given that Clue is only here through this Sunday (the 27th), I will keep this review brief in order to give you more time to rush to the Curran website and order your tickets.

Clue is based on the movie of the same name (starring Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean and more), which was in turn based on the Hasbro board game. (Though one of the biggest laughs in the show comes from the butler's response when a character asks [referring to the mansion] "Who designed this place?" "The Parker Brother," he deadpans.) There's no real discernible plot per se, just a lot of murders, finger-pointing, and searching for clues. Guests–the names we all remember from our childhoods, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlett, Mr. Green, et al.–arrive for a dinner at the Boddy Manor, where it's revealed (very minor spoiler) that all are being blackmailed for one reason on another.

No, what makes Clue worth seeing is the tremendous cast who embrace the silliness of the whole affair and invite us to join in their joy at acting out this ridiculous story filed with slapstick action, silly puns, and general hilarity.

I'd say the cast is uniformly terrific, but with a caveat. They are all excellent, but John Shartzer, as Mr. Green, stands out for his absolutely wondrous physical comedy skills. From his first entry, when he crumples from a standing position to sitting cross-legged so quickly you might miss it if you blink, to his pratfalls and loose-limbed movements, he seems to always be doing something very difficult that he manages to make look easy. After this single performance, I'd put him on a par with some of our greatest physical comedians: Buster Keaton, Martin Short, and the Bay Area's own Bill Irwin.

Christina Anthony plays Miss Scarlet with vampy seductiveness, and Joanna Glushak takes the "little old lady" stereotype of Mrs. Peacock and turns it on its head, milking the most from the lines she's given. Some of the best lines are given to John Treacy Egan, who plays the very dim Colonel Mustard. When told "you know who" is actually an acronym ("UNOWHO"), he pipes in with "I have a sister who's a gymnast."

Except for a line at the top of the show (which takes place in the 1950s) about the House Un-American Activities Committee–"Who are the un-American Americans among us?"–Clue is delightful escapism at its best. I went in expecting very little, was happy to hear the show runs 90 minutes, and left wanting more.

Clue runs through October 27, 2024, at the Curran Theatre, 445 Geary Street, San Francisco CA. Tickets range from $49 (including orchestra!) - $130. For tickets and information, please visit broadwaysf.com, or the Curran box office. For information on the tour, visit clueliveonstage.com/tour.