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Okotoks theatre group brings board game to life

Dewdney Players Group Theatre is delving into the murder mystery genre with Clue the Musical the next three weekends.
Dewdney Clue 3770 BWC
Dave Elder plays Mr. Boddy in a rehearsal of Clue the Musical by the Dewdney Players Group Theatre on Feb. 12. Performances take place at the RPAC the next three weekends. (Brent Calver/Western Wheel)

OKOTOKS - Eight actors stepping on the stage of Dewdney’s winter production don’t have a clue how the story will end each night. In fact, there are 216 possibilities.

Dewdney Players Group Theatre is delving into the murder mystery genre with Clue the Musical, bringing to life characters like Mr. Plum and Mrs. Scarlett in a musical adaptation to the popular Parker Brothers’ family board game the next three weekends at the Rotary Performing Arts Centre.

Each night, the characters and audience will remain clueless as to who the killer is, the weapon used and in what room it took place until the end.

“Every night it’s a different game with a different outcome,” said producer Ed Sands. “The audience gets six clues in Act 1 and three in Act 2. They get a sheet of paper and pencil to guess the weapon, room and subject.”

An audience member is called upon to pull cards from the deck to determine the killer, weapon and room the murder took place in before the play begins. One winner will be drawn each night to win a souvenir Dewdney mug.

“Each of the characters has a motive to kill Mr. Boddy,” Sands said. “They all have a relationship with him in some way, shape or form and all of that gets revealed. Some of the characters have had previous relationships. It’s very interwoven.”

The characters and audience are guided through the game with the help of Mr. Boddy, who serves as the narrator and clue giver throughout the performance, said Sands. Mr. Boddy is played by Dave Elder.

“It’s very cleverly done,” Sands said. “I think everyone will love this one, especially because of the fun guessing. There’s a surprise ending and there’s a surprise, surprise ending. They will get a kick out of that.”

This marks the second time Dewdney performed Clue the Musical. The first time was in 2004.

While Sands said it’s one of the most difficult plays he’s produced, he wanted to bring a high profile production to his Okotoks area audience.

“What we found over the years is if it’s a play that nobody has heard of nobody wants to come to it,” he said. “Everybody has heard of the board game.”

While the game can end in so many different ways, Sands said it’s the music that’s been the biggest challenge during the past 12 weeks of rehearsals.

“It’s a challenge in community theatre to get strong vocalists in a volunteer theatre because strong vocalists are out getting paid,” he said. “They do it for the love of it.”

Sue Moore, who plays Professor Plum and has acted with Dewdney since 2009, found the music to be her biggest hurdle.

“I’ve felt quite challenged with the music,” she said. “It’s going to sound really good but it’s really complicated to learn. Everybody has helped each other along.”

While Moore doesn’t consider herself a polished singer, she said she can carry a tune and worked hard to bring it home.

“You’ve got to learn the music and there’s choreography and there’s lines and character development as well,” she said. “It’s been quite challenging but it’s a lot of fun.”

When Moore learned Clue was coming back to the stage, she was immediately on board.

“I was really excited that it was a musical that people could relate to,” she said. “Everybody knows the board game and I think they will have a wonderful time. It’s funny and the music is catchy. They get to play along.”

Kelly Misko, who plays Ms. Peacock, said it’s been a while since she’s played Clue – she has the DVD version while her parents still have the original board game.

Misko, who is involved with the drama program at Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, said she’s always up for a good murder mystery.

“It’s always fun to figure out a good mystery and the audience plays it like the board game so it’s fun for them to watch and listen for clues and mark their sheet and figure out who they think did it, where and with what weapon,” she said.

With a love of musicals, Misko hit the jackpot with Clue.

“Of course doing Clue is always fun because everybody loves the game so it’s something everybody is familiar with,” she said.

Misko is enjoying the role of socialite Ms. Peacock, who has had many different husbands and values a wealthy lifestyle.

Her motive? Money and social status.

Like the others, Misko met her match with the music.

“You have to be a strong performer,” she said. “It’s often six of us on stage and so it’s six-part harmonies. It’s been very challenging to learn but an amazing experience with very talented actors and singers and crew. Everybody is so supportive.”

Misko has performed with such Calgary theatre groups as Morpheus Theatre and Front Row Centre Players, with 25 years acting experience, and joined Dewdney after meeting Ed and Deb Sands through Bonavista Players.

Performances of Clue the Musical are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, 27-29 and March 5-7. Matinees are at 2 p.m. Feb. 29 and March 7.

Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. They are available at the Okotoks Art Gallery or by calling 403-938-3204. For more details or to purchase tickets online go to dewdneyplayers.com

 




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