The Thespians Perform ‘Clue’

Byline photo of Isabella Zeman

Isabella Zeman, Staff Writer

November 9, 2025

Colonel Mustard (Ben Ricker), Mrs. White (Anna Christopher), Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz), Mr. Green (Henry Mathews), Miss Scarlett (Hannah Smith), and Wadsworth (Oscar Vebber) try to get to the screaming and frightened Yvette (Ali Schirf).

Colonel Mustard (Ben Ricker), Mrs. White (Anna Christopher), Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz), Mr. Green (Henry Mathews), Miss Scarlett (Hannah Smith), and Wadsworth (Oscar Vebber) try to get to the screaming and frightened Yvette (Ali Schirf).

Miss Scarlett (Hannah Smith), Mrs. White (Anna Christopher), Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz), Mr. Green (Henry Mathews) and Mrs. Peacock (Lily Solensky) all lean their glasses against the door and then down in an attempt to hear the conversation between Wadsworth and the elusive Mr. Boddy. Senior Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz said, “[The best part of the play is] the other actors. I think we all mesh well, and we’ve been having a lot of fun,” which is evident onstage. (Isabella Zeman)

Each of the characters is given one of the signature weapons from the board game: a rope, a wrench, a lead pipe, a dagger, a revolver and the candlestick, which a confused Miss Scarlett receives. These are a “gift” from Mr. Boddy, but these gifts quickly turn to sinister objects whenever they become murder weapons. (Isabella Zeman)

Wadsworth (Oscar Vebber) reveals to the guests that there is no leaving Boddy Manor. With the thunderstorm raging outside, all the doors locked, and “vicious dogs” patrolling the perimeters, the characters have no hope of escape before the night is over. As the bodies start piling up, it appears that the mild-mannered butler may know more than he’s letting on. (Isabella Zeman)

Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz), Mr. Green (Henry Mathews) and Yvette (Ali Schirf) find The Cook (Claire Campbell) dead in the kitchen fridge. The stage is laid out with two platforms to the left and right that spin to show three rooms each. And through these rooms, there are secret passageways that relate to the Boddy Manor the characters are stuck in. Stage Manager Klara Gawlowicz stated that the most challenging part of the production was, “coordinating the turn tables, and making sure that they’re turning on the right cue.” (Isabella Zeman)

Mrs. Peacock (Lily Solensky), Miss Scarlett (Hannah Smith) and Colonel Mustard (Ben Ricker) all react in their own ways to the horrors of the night, as they find one body after another. The characters together represent dramatic eccentricity, unabashed sarcasm and pompous thick-headedness; each a key piece in the absurdity of the night. (Isabella Zeman)

Colonel Mustard (Ben Ricker) demands answers from Wadsworth (Oscar Vebber), to which the butler often responds in ways that only confuse the Colonel more. A bit dim-witted, but full of confident bluster, Mustard consistently misinterprets and overcomplicates simple tasks. Ricker said, “[I loved] getting to perform with my friends and seeing all the effort of the production crew pay off.” (Isabella Zeman)

Physical comedy is one of the highlights of Clue, taking the actors all across the stage as they run, tiptoe and roll around. As Wadsworth (Oscar Vebber) recaps the events of the night, he jumps into the arms of the other characters, and all but the roguish Professor Plum jump to catch him. (Isabella Zeman)

Clue is full of iconic moments and lines from the 1985 movie it is based on, including the confession monologue that Mrs. White (Anna Christopher) delivers. The kooky widow reveals her motivation to kill her husband’s mistress in a way that comes across as more comedic than malicious. (Isabella Zeman)

Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz) is an intelligent and salacious man who’s desperate to keep his government job. Perhaps too desperate, as he is driven to drastic measures, intimidated by the looming threat of his blackmail. Sandoval-Strausz said, “I tried to focus on character work, so for any idle moments where I’m just standing around, I’m still in character.” (Isabella Zeman)

Mrs. Peacock (Lily Solensky), Professor Plum (Lincoln Sandoval-Strausz), Mrs. White (Anna Christopher), Miss Scarlett (Hannah Smith) and Colonel Mustard (Ben Ricker) are shocked at the revelation that one of their own was secretly someone else. (Isabella Zeman)

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