Did CLUE Capture the Attention of Minneapolis Theatergoers?
Fall is my favorite season, and Halloween vibes are right up there with the best parts of it. So needless to say, I was pretty excited to see the Broadway adaptation of Clue at the Orpheum during spooky season.
Clue is based on the cult-classic 1985 film, which itself was based on the iconic board game. The story follows six strangers who are invited to a mysterious dinner party at a secluded mansion. When murder enters the picture, everyone becomes a suspect, and the night quickly spirals into a chaotic whodunit full of secrets, twists, and plenty of comedy.
Having never seen the movie or played the game, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I knew I'd enjoy the overall vibe. I had also noticed on the Hennepin Arts website that the show runs for just one hour and 20 minutes with no intermission. Honestly, I loved that. One of my biggest complaints about theater is how long some productions can feel. As someone who doesn't even enjoy most movies for that reason, I was looking forward to the fast-paced approach.
Now, getting into the actual show: I wasn't a fan.
It makes me sad to say, but there were just too many things pulling me out of the experience. First and foremost, the audio was rough. I don't know what was going on, but I could barely understand the actors for much of the performance. Judging by conversations I overheard after the show, I wasn't the only one having that issue. And that's a pretty significant problem when the main goal is to hear what the actors are saying.
Photos by Evan Zimmerman
Another factor was that Clue is a play, not a musical. I was initially excited because I’d never seen a Broadway production that wasn't a musical. In practice, though, it felt like something was missing. I'm used to big musical numbers, choreography, costume changes, and all the other elements that keep a show visually dynamic. Since the entire story takes place over the course of one evening, there wasn't much of that here. I found myself wishing there had been more creative lighting, sound design, or production elements to build atmosphere and keep things visually interesting.
Another thing that kept taking me out of the show, and I know this is a weird one, was the actor playing the butler. He spit. A lot. I know a little bit of spitting can happen when actors are delivering intense lines or singing, but this was on another level. We were sitting about five rows back, which was otherwise an awesome view, but it made it impossible not to notice. It genuinely grossed me out and became so distracting that I found myself focusing on it more than the actual performance.
So, would I recommend Clue?
Honestly, no. Unless you're already a die-hard fan of the movie or have some nostalgia tied to the franchise, I don't think there's much here that would win over a casual theatergoer. The short runtime was a plus, but between the audio issues and the lack of anything that really grabbed me, this mystery never quite managed to keep me engaged.
Photos by Evan Zimmerman
