As fall descended in early November, a malicious mystery made its way into the Spalding community. Directed by Lauren Schene (‘10), the Spalding Theatre presented Clue, a thrilling murder mystery case with an entertaining suspense that kept each member of the audience on the edge of their seats, with underlying innuendos of comedic relief. The show had been in the works since early September, and the final product premiered on Friday, November 10th, thrilling audiences throughout the weekend.
The plot of Clue is a spoof on the classic board game of the same name, taking place in a remote mansion with six guests, all under pseudonyms, invited to a dinner party where topics such as mystery, blackmail, and murder (oh my!) were amused. From Miss Scarlet’s insightful monologues to Colonel Mustard’s farced one-liners, the cast’s delivery of every line was remarkable – everything you would expect out of a renowned Spalding production. During the show, accompaniments of sound effects and music were attributed to the play, and the characters themselves guaranteed that there would never be a dull moment, with constant action and banter. As the audience could not cease cracking up, the student actors impressively contained themselves on stage even when the most obscene joke was quipped.
As displayed in past Spalding Theatre productions, everyone gets their spotlight. Over 70 students, accompanied by multiple parent and teacher volunteers, all involve themselves in the makings of the on-stage performance – whether it be creating props, costumes, or the set itself, moving around set pieces backstage in the pitch black for scene changes, or on the stage as an actor. Colby Rich (‘24), who played the ringleader of the show, Wadsworth, recalls, “I feel like theatre has helped me A. gain speaking skills and B. help me understand other people and their humor. The night leading up to the first performance made me really feel a part of the theater community.” No participation goes unnoticed nor unappreciated, and many members of Spalding Theater have described the community as their family, which evidently shines through with the passion and effort of the final product.
Clue was the perfect way to kick of the 2023-2024 school year, and with a record-breaking audience on Saturday of 350 members, it was undoubtedly a success! Spalding Theatre never ceases to amaze, and will continue to do so this year, as Anastasia is coming up in March! We are thrilled to see another show from our amazing program.
