Clue: Live on Stage! – Play – Review – The 5th Avenue Theatre – Shows I've Seen

@showsiveseen Happy opening weekend to the "Clue: Live on Stage!" #murderMystery #comedy #play national tour at @The 5th Avenue Theatre. Light, short, quick-witted play full of #amusing caricatures & delightful choreographed scene transitions. Loved John Shartzer's portrayal of the slightly flamboyant Mr. Green. Closes on 7/21. #mystery #whodunit #showsiveseen #theatre #clue Review: showsiveseen.com/9041 Photos: @Evan Zimmerman Director: Casey Hushion Stage Mgr: Margot Whitney, Emily Kritzman, & @Maria DiVittorio ♬ PRETTY PLEASE – Dutch Melrose & benny mayne

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Happy opening weekend to the Clue: Live on Stage! murder mystery comedy play national tour at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Light, short, quick-witted show full of amusing caricatures and delightful choreographed scene transitions. Loved John Shartzer’s portrayal of the slightly flamboyant Mr. Green. Closes on 7/21.

Recommendation
See it if you enjoy murder mystery whodunit comedies like The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 or Something’s Afoot

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget! Was it Mrs. Peacock in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the wrench? Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Someone is murdering guests in a mysterious manor. Who’s the killer?

Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 7/10/24 – Buy your tickets now since the show closes on 7/21.

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several rooms in a manor

Static (Stationary) Set? Mostly no. The background of the stage was stationary, but the walls occasionally expanded to reveal additional rooms. Also, set backgrounds descended from the ceiling to depict other rooms.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but I imagine you might enjoy this play more if you saw the movie. I never saw the movie, and I still enjoyed the show.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes, but the story encompassed a single evening. It did not span multiple days like a typical plot.

Equity Actors: All

Total Number of Actors: 11

Perceived Pace of the Show: Fast speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 75 minutes – it was so short that the sun was still out when I exited the theatre.

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I previously saw Clue in a community production at The Pheonix Theatre.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No. It’s a good script, but twice is enough for me.

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Caricatures: The show was filed with a plethora of funny caricatures. My favorite was the cute, closeted (total bottom for sure), and nimble Mr. Green (played by John Shartzer). He reminded me of a dainty, flexible, un-buff Clark Kent. Also, a dumb brute (Colonel Mustard played by John Treacy Egan) is always a crowd pleaser. Colonel Mustard was actually the most memorable character from the previous Clue production I attended.
Funny Script: The script was quick-witted with some slapstick. The audience needed to think fast to not miss any punch lines. I remember someone behind me suddenly exclaimed “Oh Shit!” because of something hilarious.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Mystery Shows: I’m surprised The 5th Avenue Theatre decided to produce two whodunit mystery shows (Clue: Live on Stage! and Something’s Afoot) this season. I would expect just one (if any) to ensure show genre diversity. While both shows were well-written and well-executed, I’m generally not a fan of the whodunit genre.

Theatre Company: National tour brought by The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue: The 5th Avenue Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

Price Range: $49-200

Tickets: https://www.5thavenue.org/shows/2023-2024/clue/

Ticket Affordability Options: The 5th Avenue Theatre often partners with organizations you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, they sometimes offer a discount for my employer affiliation. Rush tickets are also available day-of at the box office.

Dates: July 9 to 21, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: When I don’t walk to the theatre or park on the street, I park in the paid garage at the Motif Hotel northwest of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the Hilton garage (entrance on 6th Ave). That’s where most of the audience (and I think the subscribers) parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the Hilton garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre through a tunnel if you want to avoid the elements. But, in my opinion, this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving the garage.

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