If you’ve played the board game or watched the 1985 film, you’re familiar with the premise of the Players Guild at Sugar Hill’s latest production, “Clue” — the action takes place in the mid-1950s at Boddy Manor, where six guests, all strangers to each other and all keeping secrets, are invited to dine. When someone turns up deceased, the guests and the audience are left to figure out who did it and with which weapon.
It’s a recipe for hilarity wrapped up in a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, said Sugar Hill resident Tom Heagy, who directs the stage production and also serves as set designer.
“Audiences will find themselves immersed in ‘Boddy Manor’ and all that goes on within its walls — and many doors,” said Heagy, who enjoyed playing the game as a child. “Mysteries are great, especially when you get surprised. This is evident with the game and the (stage) play. My direction leads the actors to ‘stay in the game’ and not reveal too much too soon.”
The Players Guild’s production features 15 cast members backed by seven crew members handling scene changes all led by a stage manager and two assistant stage managers with one crew member running lights and another running sound. Additional crew members include a prop master, an assistant set designer, an artistic director and a lighting designer.
While the show’s script is based on the 1985 film of the same name, Heagy said the stage performance will still be unique.
“We have stayed true to the script and therefore the movie, but the mannerisms and actions are unique to what we have put together,” he said. “The cast have brought their own interpretations of their characters as well. Some are very similar to the movie characters and others quite different. I feel good about this. It’s our show — not a copy of the movie or someone else’s production.”
Heagy said the production is also unique in that the “fourth wall” — an invisible, imagined wall that separates stage performers from audiences so that actors don’t engage with audience members — doesn’t hold up in “Clue.”
“This show breaks that rule in a big way,” he said. “We want the audience to be pulled into the events before them as much as possible. I guarantee there won’t be any sleepy patrons during this show.”
Like Heagy, Suwanee resident Jacquie Bosma also grew up playing the board game.
“… my family and I had a gorgeous 50th Anniversary Edition of the game and we played it many times,” she said. “Miss Scarlet was often my preferred character when we were playing. I loved the sassy little stance of her character figurine, and that she looked so guilty that she must have killed Mr. Boddy … Or did she?”
Bosma will take the Eagle Theatre stage as Miss Scarlet and audiences just might ask themselves that same question.
“I love bringing a good story to life,” Bosma said, “and ‘Clue’ is a great story.
“This stage production of ‘Clue’ is relatively new as far as licensing goes, so it’s very exciting to be one of the first in our area to take on this project,” Bosma added. “‘Clue’ is going to be a crowd-pleaser for any fans of the film, or even longtime players of the board game.”
“The show is fast-paced,” Heagy advised, “so keep your eyes open for clues.”
FEATURED PHOTO: On Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2022, cast members rehearse a scene for the Players Guild at Sugar Hill’s upcoming production of “Clue” on the Eagle Theatre stage. Photo courtesy of Tom Heagy.
If you go
- What: “Clue”
- When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, as well as 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20
- Where: Eagle Theatre, 5029 W. Broad St. in Sugar Hill
- Cost: $20 to $150
- For more information: Visit eagleatsugarhill.com/event/clue-on-stage or call the box office at 770-945-6929
