(Cover Photo: The CAST of "CLUE" by Sandy Rustin playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 23, 2022. Photo by Jeremy Woloski)


By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724 

"Husbands should be like Kleenex. Soft, strong, and disposable."

Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. 

at the Bradley Playhouse 

Presents

"CLUE: ON STAGE"

Written by Sandy Rustin, based upon the works by Jonathan Lynn, Hunter Foster, Eric Price.

Directed By Jeremy Woloski

Cast Includes: Nicholas Magrey, Laurie Neal, Rose Gage, Christine Crugnola Petruniw,  Krissi Forgues, Neal Martel, Robert Ellis III, Preston Arnold, Wladimir Petruniw,  Maegan Kelley, Ella Woloski, Alex Gardner, Andrew J. Pariseau, Alex Tirrell, Rosa Nguyen

Additional Creative Team: 

Stage Manager- Adrian Gage;  Assistant Stage Manager - Marissa Phaneuf; Production Manager - Jeanne Foley; Production Coordinator - Kathleen Atwood; Set Design - Jeremy Woloski; Scenic Artists - Greg Brock, Diana Lee, Laura Moorehead; Set Painters - Christine Crugnola Petruniw, Tonya Brock; Costumer - Teal Griswold; Costume Assistant - Maegan Kelley; Props - Melinda Collelo, Bonnie Theriault, Christine Crugnola Petruniw, Wladimir Petruniw; Lighting Design - Adrian Gage, Jeremy Woloski; Sound Design - Jeremy Woloski, Adrian Gage; Light Board Operator - Jeremy Woloski, Adrian Gage; Sound Board Operator - Adrian Gage, Jeremy Woloski; Stage Crew - Rosa Nguyen, Ella Woloski, Alex Gardner, Will Alexson, Alexya Dinsmore, Melina Martello-Munoz, Wladimir Petruniw; Set Construction - Mark Nadeau, Mike Krauss, Ty Collige, Mike Gallo, Jo-Ann Gallo, Natalie Crino, Seth Crino, Anna Werge, Pam Kerouack, Mike Griswold, Alexya Dinsmore, EJ, Christine Crugnola Petruniw, Wladimir Petruniw; Photography - Ty Collige; Logo Design - Eddie Krauss; Volunteer Coordinator - Cindy Beckman; Business Manager - Kristi-Lyn Sadosky.

Adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc. 

Bradley Playhouse, 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT.  

Performances:

October 7, 2022 through October 23, 2022 

Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm

Please note: 

Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30pm

Sundays at 2pm       

TICKETS       

ADULTS: $22

STUDENTS OR SENIORS (60+): $18

VETERANS OR FIRST RESPONDERS: $18

Please note: FLEX PASS holders need to sign-in online or CALL the Box Office to PURCHASE TICKETS

All seats reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887.  

PURCHASE TICKETS

The Bradley Playhouse brings the game "CLUE" to life and the almost 90 minutes of non-stop hilarity that ensues is just killer comedy.

Inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, the stage adaptation of "CLUE" is based on the 1985 film featuring an all-star cast which included Tim Curry and the late, great Madeline Kahn. 

"CLUE" is a farcical spoof of murder mysteries and the only thing really missing in this silly show is the sound of rim-shots for all the incredibly sophomoric jokes. 

However, do not underestimate the precision-level cleverness of Sandy Rustin's adaptation of "CLUE".  

The play was faithfully based upon the John Landis movie's dialogue written by Jonathan Lynn, with additional material supplied by Hunter Foster and Eric Price and original music provided by Michael Holland. 

All in all, a very adroit and insanely witty combination of writing talent.

So, just how closely does the show follow the board game?

The game takes about an hour to play. The show runs about 90 minutes without an intermission.

The game calls for players to investigate a murder by gathering evidence. For the show, the audience must deduce the guilt or innocence of characters of the board game brought to life.

In the show, there are six suspects who have all gathered together at a remote mansion managed by a sinister butler, Wadsworth (Nicholas Magrey). 

Wadsworth appears to manage the estate with a staff that includes one sultry, suspicious maid, Yvette (Laurie Neal) and one "Cook" (played at the 10-14 performance by Ella Woloski).

(Photo: The CAST of "CLUE" by Sandy Rustin playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 23, 2022. Photo by Jeremy Woloski)

Why have these particular people assembled? 

Turns out the six suspects - Miss Scarlett (Rose Gage), Professor Plum (Robert Ellis III), Mrs. White (Krissi Forgues), Mr. Green (Preston Arnold), Mrs. Peacock (Christine Crugnola Petruniw) and Colonel Mustard (Neal Martel) - are all blackmail victims of one Mr. Boddy (Wladimir Petruniw).

Boddy arrives at the mansion and presents each of the suspects with a "gift" of obvious murder weapons: a candle stick, a dagger, a hangman's noose rope, a wrench, a lead pipe and a revolver. 

The winner of the game "CLUE" is the player who, through the process of elimination, can figure out which three cards are hidden within the secret envelope that holds the answers to Boddy's murder. 

For example: "Colonel Mustard...in the library...with a pipe wrench."

As the play unfolds, the audience watches a similar game play out live on stage where EVERYONE is suspect. 

Yet, with each and every ludicrous plot point - and there are many - the laughs just build and build until no one in the audience is safe...from dying of laughter.

The assembled cast works cohesively and, collectively, they bring the funny at every twist and turn....and those twists and turns don't just happen in the dialogue. Many times the ensemble is forced into arduous physical comedy which they successfully accomplish throughout.    

Costumes and sets are extremely well defined for the show and, under the overall supervision of director Jeremy Woloski the cast is supported by a solid stage crew that is led by TNECT Production Manager Jeanne Foley, Production Coordinator Kathleen Atwood, Stage Manager Adrian Gage and Assistant Stage Manager Marissa Phaneuf. 

The entire TNECT stage crew should be given high praise as they manage to maneuver the rapidly mobile scenery with great precision. 

(Photo: The CAST of "CLUE" by Sandy Rustin playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through October 23, 2022. Photo by Jeremy Woloski)

The cast executes Sandy Rustin's insane dialogue with great aplomb.

As the suspects all search the mansion to reveal the killer, the body count stacks up as others seem to find themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time...or the right place at the right time if they are looking to be murdered. With some of these silly characters, it is sometimes hard to tell.

"CLUE" is a "whodunit" farce that will leave audiences in stitches as they try to figure out who done it, where did they done it, with what did they done it and, most of all, why should we care again?

You should care because, if you have a "CLUE," you'll know you are watching great comedy when it the laughs repeatedly hit you...

At the Bradley...in Putnam...with sidesplitting performances.

Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)  

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. 

The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. 

When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. 

Led by Wadsworth – the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. 

Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

COVID-19 PROTOCOL

Wearing a mask is optional if you are vaccinated. For the safety of patrons, cast, crew, and volunteers, we do request that a mask be worn by those who are not vaccinated. 

ABOUT THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE

The Bradley Playhouse is a 117 year-old vaudeville theatre in the heart of the Putnam antiques and restaurant district in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeastern Connecticut.  Since 1991, the Bradley Playhouse has been managed by the volunteers of The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT).  

ABOUT THEATRE OF NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT

TNECT produces eight main season shows per year and a number of special fundraising events for The Bradley Playhouse Restoration Fund. TNECT’s mission is to produce and sponsor quality theatre and entertainment for the residents of Northeastern Connecticut and the surrounding areas, to encourage the development of creativity through the support of local artists, and to support education and hands-on experience in the creation, direction, and production of theatre and the performing arts.

The Bradley Playhouse

30 Front Street

PO Box 71

Putnam, CT 06260-1942

www.thebradleyplayhouse.org