Clue From audition to performance: An oral history
Inspired by the popular board game, Clue: On Stage will hit the Ritenour High School stage November 17-19.
Originally adapted by Sandy Rustin from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, “Clue: On Stage” is an interactive mystery that tells tales of blackmail and murder.
“A man invites a bunch of people to his house for a dinner party,” explains cast member Arianna Farris. “Everybody starts questioning why they’re there, then the man shows up. He’s been blackmailing these people for years … Then, someone gets murdered and everybody tries to figure out who did it, just like the game.”
Like any stage production, what comes first is the auditions.
Mia Weicht, Freshman
(Auditions) were pretty laid back, and weren’t that hard.”
Skylar Mays, Freshman
“I did after-school auditions, but they were fun. I met a couple of people I ended up being in the play with, and it was pretty chill.”
Ari Farris, Junior
“I didn’t know there was going to be a play until [Danielle] texted me and was like, ‘are you auditioning?’ I asked her when, and it was that day, so I was all ‘Oh!’. It was a very last-minute audition.”
Danielle Haynes, Senior
“I auditioned during Husky Time because I was playing golf. She had us read Scarlet and Plum’s part. It was different than past auditions because usually, you can pick from certain parts, but in this one, we just had to read from those 2 choices.”
Ari Farris
“Auditions were pretty chill. [Ms. Butler] gave us a couple of pages of a scene. She would read one part, and we’d read the other. If she noticed us struggling, she’d give us time to think before moving on to the next line.”
Junior Betanya Kassie interacts with junior Arianna Farris in play rehearsal while freshman Sophia Weinberg looks to director Allyson Butler for direction.
“Clue” is a game of mischief, mystery, and deception. As a stageplay, its characters are no different: Each has something to hide, and their multifaceted personalities combined with their actors’ interpretations reflect the unique nature of Clue: the Musical.
Mia Weicht
“My character is a gay girl who is a germaphobe and very skittish.”
Skylar Mays
“The motorist is a character who comes up to the house asking for help, but ends up involved in all the trouble.”
Ari Farris
“I play Wadsworth, the butler. It’s a she now; they changed it, even though I was okay with playing a man. She’s really uptight about being a butler… She’s pretty put together and knows what she’s doing, and keeps everybody calm. A lot of the roles are gender-bent, so don’t expect a lot of guys. If you hear screaming, don’t get worried.”
Betanya Kassie, Junior
“I play Scarlett, she is a dry, sardonic DC socialite. You know how a cat moves, and they tiptoe everywhere? That is how I do my movements.”
Kaliegh Marsala, Freshman
I play Ms. Peacock. She is very enthusiastic, and very confident in herself. You can be really loud and overly confident in how you act to really get her personality through.
Freshman Kaliegh Marsala runs her lines with junior Arianna Farris as freshman Skylar Mays, senior Damon Ross and senior Amorah Washington listen to the conversation.
Of course, no script becomes a play without rehearsals. It takes months of practice to master a role, and even more practice to play that role in any given situation. However, with a group as close-knit as the theatre club, things are bound to go awry sometimes.
Skylar Mays
“Right now, we’re setting up where each actor will stand in a scene, and remembering our lines has been important.”
Mia Weicht
“It can be pretty hard depending on how big your character is. My character has a lot of lines, so I have to memorize a lot of lines.”
Ari Farris
“It’s pretty chaotic. We’ve all grown so close as a cast. It’s coming together pretty well if we can just focus.”
Skylar Mays
‘(Rehearsal can be) a little challenging when people aren’t there.”
Mia Weicht
“I’d say our fight-and-fall day. We have to learn how to fake fights with each other and fake falls.”
Betanya Kassie
“We have so many great ideas that it is so hard to stay on track and focus. I try to be serious since I’m one of the older people in the cast, but I know we are all trying our best. I’m really looking forward to all the puns I get to deliver. “
Danielle Haynes
“It’s definitely new, the younger cast keeps me on my toes. They are definitely freshmen.”
Le-mia Payton, Freshman
“This is my first play. I wanted to try something new with (Sanaiya Adkins), so we both tried out. I get along with this group. The more experienced performers are a lot more strict on focusing.”
The tech crew helps move the couch as they transition from one scene to the next.
Remember that Clue: the Musical will grace the limelight November 17-19, and the cast would love for anyone and everyone to attend to solve the mysterious murder of Mr. Boddy. The cast has loved the bonds they have created while practicing, but want to make sure the auditorium is filled.
Ari Farris
“Focusing on the play itself, and not becoming besties with all the cast members [is hard]. Like I said, we’ve grown close, but it makes [rehearsals] hard because we keep laughing.”
Mia Weicht
“The easiest part has definitely been getting to know the cast, and all of our parts.”
Skylar Mays
It’s fun, it’s a lot of fun just doing it.”
Mia Weicht
“It’s a very fun play, and you guys should come see it.”
Danielle Haynes
“I’m looking forward to opening night. I always enjoy opening night, when the lights come up it is just this thrilling feeling that can’t be replaced.”