The butler did it! In the conservatory! With the knife! Or was it Colonel Mustard? In the kitchen? With the candlestick!? Who kills people with a candlestick!? (Seriously, Parker Brothers, what were you thinking?) In a zany stage adaptation, Stand Up For…Theatre is mounting their latest production and it’s none other than Clue. Not a musical, not their standard bill of fare, and not exactly what you think you might be expecting when you come to see the show— you’re in for a high-laugh, high-mystery evening at Stand Up For…Theatre at the end of February.
In talking with Director Ed Higgins, we’ve learned— in addition to their gorgeous and unique home at DoodleHATCH (if you’ve never been to DoodleHATCH during daylight hours, try that too— it defies description in so many fascinating ways)— that this staging of Clue is going to be a little bit unusual in an oh-so-unique way. Most theatergoers come to a show, take a seat in the audience, and watch what happens on the stage. For Clue, the audience is going to be seated on the stage because the cast and crew of Clue have painted a larger-than-life gameboard on the house floor, almost identical to the original gameboard of Clue (or Cluedo if you’re English). And all of the evening’s activities, shenanigans, and thrillifying mysteries will be conducted in the actual rooms of the gameboard!
As if that wasn’t enough to get somebody— even Mister Body— hyped about attending the show, we’ve had a few quick comments with various and sundry members of the cast* to help amp up the excitement about this production of Clue. In a flash-series that we’re calling— ‘Colorful Conversations’ you can read below some of the things some of these performers had to say about their gameboard-turned-stage-play experience!
Thank you all so very much for giving us a little bit of your time— let’s just have a few questions with each of you to see what we can discover about this mysterious little show called Clue. We’ll start with you— who are you? And who do you play?
Christopher Pence: My name is Christopher Pence… no relation… and I’m playing Colonel Mustard.
Is this your first experience with Stand Up For…Theatre?
Christopher: No. I’ve done three shows with Stand Up… I did A Few Good Men, I played Lt. Sam Weinberg. I was a phantom in The Rocky Horror Show and now this one.
Fantastic. Why Clue?
Christopher: I always loved murder mysteries, especially shows like this where they play into the tropes. We all love Agatha Christie where we’re all trying to figure it out, but with a show like this, you have the same amount of fun while the show is making fun of that. There are so many ridiculous things that we fall for, so many of the same traps that you know are coming that you just can’t help but love it.
Is Colonel Mustard your new favorite game piece? How are you and the Colonel similar and different?
Christopher: Yes ma’am, you know it. I’m a pompous blowhard. I talk too much. I can be kind of dopey sometimes and I think too much of myself. I’d say we’re pretty similar.
Oh my! Now, if you had to pick a color that isn’t currently part of the standard six colors featured in “Clue” and bring them as an entity into the game, what would you pick and who would they become?
Christopher: I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. Now, I have to say, I don’t honestly understand where they came up with “Mustard” when they have all these other options for the color yellow. I think I might have called him Admiral Amarillo instead.
What’s your favorite part about being a part of Clue so far?
Christopher: Just hanging out with the cast. And the direction. I love working with Ed (Director Ed Higgins) because as much as he pushes us, I still feel like I’m creating the character on my own. I really feel like this is my character and he’s just telling me where to stand.
That’s always good to hear. What’s your favorite murder weapon?
Christopher: I don’t know. I’m quite partial to the wrench but I honestly don’t know.
What’s your favorite room in the house?
Christopher: Well it definitely ain’t the lounge because I never lounge.
So we should make notes. Probably not Colonel Mustard, in the lounge, with the wrench.
Christopher: I didn’t say that.
Why do you want people to come and see Clue?
Christopher: This is based off of the movie from the 80’s. And even though there are plenty of people who know about it because it definitely has a cult following, there are a lot of people that don’t. I want more people to know about it. It’s an absolutely hilarious movie and it’s even more fun to do it live on stage. Bringing that old style back is so much fun.
If you had to sum up your experience with Clue in just one word, what word would you choose?
Christopher: I have to say— it’s a mystery!
Well done, Christopher! Thank you so much for your time! Now, we’ve spoken with Christopher, playing Colonel Mustard, let’s move on to you— who are you? Who do you play?
Charlie Simisky: I am Charlie Simisky and I play Mr. Green.
Nice to meet you, Charlie. Why did you want to come be a part of Clue?
Charlie: I love the movie. And the board game was always my favorite before I even knew the movie was a thing. I helped out, as a stage hand, with SUFT’s Rocky Horror, and when they said they were doing Clue next, I said “keep my name in mind if you want anything.” And about two or three weeks ago, they said, “Hey, we need a Mr. Green.” And I said, “OF COURSE!”
Excellent. Now you mentioned the board game. Does it hold fond memories for you?
Charlie: Nothing in particular it was just always my favorite. And I was not good at it. At all. But I’m the youngest of six kids so we were always all running around doing after school activities, sports, band, whatever. And our parents were always busy. The times when we were all together and did get to sit down to play games, I always remember it being “Clue.” So I love this game. It’s also good for larger groups of people.
How are you and Mr. Green similar and different?
Charlie: I am very clumsy. I would say, in the beginning that Mr. Green is timid and reserved and generally when I’m first getting to know people, so am I. In the end, he’s somewhat of a hero and I have always liked the idea of being a hero. Who doesn’t like the idea of being a hero?
The people who want to be a villain.
Charlie: That’s fair. But a hero always needs a villain and villain always needs a hero.
So true. Now, if you had to pick a color that isn’t currently part of the standard six colors featured in “Clue” and bring them as an entity into the game, what would you pick and who would they become?
Charlie: My favorite color is turquoise. And it would be Mrs. Turquoise and she would run an aquarium. I have no idea what her backstory would be as to why she’d be blackmailed? But I just feel like that would fit in this zany, mysterious comedy.
What’s your favorite room in the house?
Charlie: The Study. Just because we have this funny thing where I end up hiding in the back corner of that room and I just keep poking my head out of that corner. And I think that’s a lot of fun.
What’s your favorite murder weapon?
Charlie: Anyone that’s creative enough to use a candlestick to murder someone? They have my respect.
Okay… I’m adding that to my notes. Quite possibly Mr. Green, in the study, with the candlestick!
Charlie: Don’t give them any clues!
Why do you want people to come out and see Clue?
Charlie: I think it’s great, coming out to see live theatre. I was only ever in one play as a kid. I can’t remember the name of it. It was something about moving out west and the modernization of using trains verses horses. I played the Wagon Master. But I’m loving getting back into it. I think this is a great cause, the whole thing— Stand Up For…Theatre, How Do You Like Me Now Productions— I think Ed is supporting something great, and this show gives the actors an opportunity to come out and really get into something fun. It gives the audience a chance to come out and have some fun and see something they might not always see.
If you had to sum up your experience with Clue in just one word, what word would you choose?
Charlie: Revitalizing.
Excellent! We’ve spoken with Colonel Mustard and Mister Green. Are you keeping track so far? Let’s move on to— you! You there! Who are you? Who do you play?
Latrell Matthewson: I’m Latrell. Matthewson. Don’t know if the last name is important. But I play Professor Plum.
Welcome, Latrell. Matthewson. Who is playing Professor Plum. Is this your first show with Stand Up For…Theatre?
Latrell: I did Rocky Horror as a member of the ensemble but this is my first non-musical. Rocky Horror was my first theatre-anything. So I guess this is my second-ever-theatre-anything.
That is phenomenal. So why did you want to be a part of Clue?
Latrell: Well, Ed said, “I think you’d make a really good Plum. What do you think?” And I said, “Yeah. Okay.” And then I was concerned when I ended up watching the movie because immediately I thought, “This guy is not my favorite person.” And that made me concerned as to why Ed thought I would be good at being Plum. But hey— I think he’s trying to challenge me. So I’m all in.
On that note, how are you Professor Plum similar and different?
Latrell: I hope we’re really different! But I think the things that make us similar is— I think we’re both smart. Well, I think I’m smart. I try to be smart. Plum is the worst of that. He’s arrogant. And he’s that nice 50’s misogynist. And he’s that tiny bit of chivalrous that 1950’s men thought they were. It’s really fun to play an intelligent person who is also the worst version of that.
Now, if you had to pick a color that isn’t currently part of the standard six colors featured in “Clue” and bring them as an entity into the game, what would you pick and who would they become?
Latrell: Oh! Alright! So we’re going with Orange. And we’re going with Lady of the home. She’s definitely the traitor of the group. She knew what was happening the whole time and at the very end reveals that she’s played everyone and then leaves.
What’s your favorite room in the house?
Latrell: Mine is the Conservatory. Me and Justin (Art Director/Set Painter Justin Nepomuceno) got to paint it all and it’s probably the least-used room in the house but it’s the one we put the most effort into. It has only one trap door— and its used just once, of course I won’t say when or how, but it’s still my favorite room.
Now have you ever played the game “Clue”?
Latrell: Nope. Never played the game and I’d never watched the movie until I was told about the show. And then I did watch the movie because I was curious.
What’s your favorite weapon?
Latrell: Well, I won’t say which one is mine…I mean Plum’s…but my favorite one is probably the Lead Pipe because a lot of fun things happen with it throughout the show.
For everyone out there taking notes…totally possibly not or maybe so… Professor Plum, in the Conservatory, with the Lead Pipe!
Latrell: Who knows? You’ll have to come out to see!
That’s a perfect segue, Latrell. Why do you want people to come out and see Clue?
Latrell: I think it’s hilarious. I thought it was going to be this serious, mystery-drama. Then I watched the movie. Hilarious. And this is based on the movie. So it’s hilarious. It’s back-to-back Tim Curry movie-shows for me. I think that might be the only way I’m going to act, if it’s a show based on a Tim Curry movie.
That means someone has to find a way to do a stage production of Muppet Treasure Island.
Latrell: I didn’t know that was a thing. Now I need to go home and watch that. Tim Curry’s in that?
Yes. He plays the Pirate guy. What’s his name. Long John Silver. It’s the Muppets re-enacting Treasure Island and Tim Curry plays the baddy.
Latrell: I am totally going home and finding that and watching that.
That makes me happy. And I’m glad to hear that you want people to come out and enjoy the hilarity that is Clue on stage. If you had to sum up your experience with Clue in just one word, what word would you choose?
Latrell: Mysterious? But that seems too easy. So I’m going to go with wild!
That’s all we’ve got for the moment, folks! Are you paying attention?
Was it Colonel Mustard, in the lounge, with the wrench?
Or Mister Green, in the study, with the candlestick?
Perhaps Professor Plum, in the conservatory, with the lead pipe!?
Only one way to find out…get tickets below to satiate your curiosity when it comes to whodunnit with Clue.
Clue plays February 24th 2023 through March 5th 2023 with Stand Up For…Theatre in their new home at DoodleHATCH— 8775 Cloudleap Court in Columbia, MD. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or in advance online.
*not all cast members were available at the time of interview.
