Clue: On Stage
at Riverside High School

Reviewed on November 6, 2021

Miya Livingston
Dominion High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Portraying a murder mystery in dramatic form is a challenge in and of itself, let alone putting on a show more than twenty months since the last time patrons sat down to watch any kind of live performance. With the reputation of a beloved family board game added to the mix, expectations were high for Riverside High School's production of "Clue: On Stage." Yet, to the delight of the vigilant audience, the cast and crew fulfills-- and exceeds-- them all.

A comedic play by 21st century playwright Sandy Rustin, "Clue: On Stage" honors its roots among the detective board game "Clue" and its token 1985 movie. Set outside Washington, D.C. circa 1950, the story revolves around an unlikely bunch of party guests-- six socialites who find themselves trapped in the extravagant Boddy Manor and entangled in a high-stakes affair of blackmail, familiar faces, and murder.

Riverside's take on the play skillfully juxtaposed an ominous atmosphere with a generous sprinkling of slapstick comedy-- the bridge between these two facets of the show being the element of surprise, constantly manifesting as unexpected gags or startling plot developments, for the characters and the audience alike. The production brought timeless humor to another level, catering perfectly to the audience by referencing current events and aspects of modern high school life. Performers consistently drew attention to the right thing at the right moment-- a dramatic skill that is hardly ever more important than it is in a murder mystery, where every detail could matter-- and all technical difficulties were concealed with professional dexterity.

The ensemble cast cogently shared the spotlight throughout the first act, while the more intimate second act allowed ample room for each individual actor to shine independently. Wadsworth (Aaron Eichenlaub), the Boddy Manor butler, conducted the ensemble with dignified effervescence; complementing Wadsworth's Shakespearean soliloquies, the exaggerated mannerisms and vibrant bantering of Mrs. Peacock (Snow Fox) immersed and entertained the audience. Colonel Mustard (Brady Rufo) commanded the stage in every scene with Broadway-level confidence and comic timing-- Rufo's droll embodiment of the stereotypical American hero, whose patriotism and fortitude all but make up for an unfortunate obtuseness. Rufo's nonchalant delivery of memorable one-liners effortlessly evoked uproars of laughter. The all-but-grieving widow Mrs. White (Olivia Miniuk) and promiscuous businesswoman Miss Scarlet (Gabi David) elevated the mood with their own distinct humor and feminine flair.

If the board game characters were the beams on which the house was built, the caricatural supporting cast were the embossed wallpapers. Heather Stuart's skill in embodying the excitable and naive French maid Yvette, certainly one of the more difficult characters to portray, was impossible to miss.

The show's Noir-esque ambience also owed its success to the designers behind the dollhouse-like set and lighting. The color-coded lighting during each socialite's entrance, atop the iconic, vivid costumes (designed by Natalia Fernandez-Davila Paredes) of characters like Miss Scarlett and Mrs. Peacock, paid homage to the classic board game pieces. The live piano player, Ryan Sweeney, produced the show's music and special effects and was the perfect comedic accessory, occasioning countless unforgettable moments.

With their production of "Clue: On Stage", Riverside High School revived and repainted the play's whodunit mystery-- a genre so swiftly approaching desuetude in this day in age-- in a manner so spectacular, facetious, and vibrant that murder was hardly the focal point of the plot at all. Then again, perhaps caution is due for those who did have the privilege of being in the audience-- once word of the show spreads through town, folks will no doubt be dying to see it.

Sloane Helmick
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Riverside High School's "Clue: on Stage" left the audience completely confuddled. The classic whodunit mystery told the story of six dinner guests who were in for an ill-fated night of shark fin soup, unexpected visitors, and of course murder. While the invitees were contrasting in lifestyle, personality, and fashion, they were all met with the same unfortunate challenge. Their blackmailer had called them to an illustrious mansion for a twisted game, which pitted the superstitious six against each other as they raced to uncover the who, what, and where of it all.

The sound of smooth piano music immediately swept the audience away into the world of finery and the room was electric with anticipation. Ryan Sweeney was stoic and professional throughout as they initiated an epic sequence of harrowing riffs and shocking staccatos. The lighting team led by Ryder Quiggle enshrouded everything in lighting and brought the audience a step closer to the action. Multi-colored gels were tediously cut to exactly fit each light in order to zero in on the iconic themes of each character. Upon stepping into the unsuspecting and candelabra lit labyrinth, each pseudonym-bearing caricature was announced with a bright flash of their signature color. Working without walls, the team isolated their focus to designated locations on stage wherever the subjects of the game popped up, effectively distracting the naked eye from the stealthy RVHS running crew. With such high stakes, there was no room for error, and the running crew flawlessly executed the extraction of "Boddies" all across the stage. Timeless fashion was a real standout in Clue, especially when so much detail was put into just the concept boards. The costumes team, led by Natalia Fernandez-Davila Paredes, was elaborately fabricated and perfectly suited the vessels which breathed, oddly enough, life into them.

The players of this game were never dull, in fact they were all extremely bright and shone as brightly as their attire. Immediately, the ultimate American Colonel Mustard played by Brady Rufo was bold, brazen, and boisterously brimming with hilarity. With each loudly announced statement, Rufo reinvented the concept of comedic timing, while militantly managing to maintain the Colonel's serious physicality. Everything was placed exactly according to plan, and though the character was a decorated Colonel, could his clueless air be too innocent of an act? Playing off Rufo, Mrs. Peacock, played by Snow Fox was a ferociously creative character portrayal. Reimagining the stock character, Fox made bold strokes, frenzying the groundwork already laid down with such a classic role, into a whimsical, audacious old woman with no filter. On the other side of the dinner table, Aaron Eichenlaub embodied the role of Wadsworth with such poise and grace, that growing to love the British Butler, unbeknownst to the audience, could never seem remiss. Just your average Joe from the start, Wadsworth became a loveable friend and mentor to the pawns that they were so masterfully misleading.

Clue became ever so puzzling as the recognizable tale was once again elegantly played. Watching each player take their turn in the role of murderer became equally chilling and uproarious. With no innocent parties left at the end of the night, each guest was granted a fresh perspective on their own unique situations, revealing that passing judgements is a rather humbling experience for oneself. Riverside High School provided a drop-dead delightful spectacle that left minds digging through each minuscule detail that was all the perfect set up for the double twist ending. Watch out for ominous invitations in your mailbox, Mr. Boddy will be expecting you.

Cami DiVenere
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Professor Plum, Ms. Peacock, and Mr. Green. Those infamous thrilling, chilling, characters had never been more guilty of laughs than at Riverside High School's production of "Clue: On Stage"! Based on the classic board game and 80's movie, "Clue" followed a cast of six socialites under iconic pseudonyms along with the eerie mansion staff as they attempted to uncover the deceptive murderer among them.

Despite being a murder mystery, the show lent a majority of itself to gut-punching (and back-stabbing) comedy! Aaron Eichenlaub's (Wadsworth) prissy accent, fed-up attitude, and outrageous delivery skill had the audience rolling on the floor during their scenes, just as often as their character did! Brady Rufo (Colonel Mustard) used decorated medal-worthy comedic style and delivery to perfectly contrast the militaristic physicality. Caden Barley (Mr. Green) created criminally comedic scenes with a squeaky voice and anxious mannerisms as Mr. Green was repeatedly bombarded with corpses! Alexander Footen (Professor Plum) revealed depth of character through shocking reveals and recurring comedic bits throughout the entirety of the mystery.

Seduction, separation, and a superfluous drinking problem, Gabi David (Miss Scarlet), Olivia Miniuk (Mrs. White), and Snow Fox (Mrs. Peacock), truly embodied their wacky characters and each brought their own unique style to the stage! David's sultry movements and sassy delivery made them a recurring eye of suspicion. Miniuk's guilt-ridden confessions and guarded attitude perfectly fit the black-clad Mrs. White. With perfectly timed ad-libs and modern references, Fox strutted proudly as a peacock should, and nailed the frizzled chatterbox that made the entire audience victim to their comedic prowess!

Heather Stuart (Yvette), Chloe Burroughs (Cook), and Michael Conk (Boddy), additionally made their characters' short lives on stage memorable with distinct voices and drop-dead dedication to their physically demanding roles!

Every character came with their own voice, movement, and style as if they were directly yanked off the gameboard. Their character work and synchronization as an ensemble was spectacular, there was never a dead moment between the cast; not counting the bodies, of course!

Dim candlelight flickered on the dark stage, an eerie chord struck out from the piano, and the lights flashed like lightning as the lavish mansion set was revealed with colored lights. The technical elements truly made this murder mystery come alive!

Set designers Caden Barley and Sophia Coulopoulos used suspended set pieces to suggest the idea of large mansion walls, complete with secret passages, hidden safes, and revolving panels, you never knew what to expect in the mysterious manor! The lighting designer Ryder Quiggle used color to their advantage. Quiggle used each character's signature hue in their entrances and continuously established the tone with eerie lighting. Color was also prominent with the costumes as Natalia Fernandez-Davila Paredes created memorable outfits with distinct silhouettes along with coordinated masks that appeared as though the characters stepped directly off the gameboard!

Music was a monumental aspect of the show. Ryan Sweeney killed the keys with the piano! Sweeney never missed a beat, spicing up comedic moments and suspending mysterious ones! Sweeney simultaneously left the audience aghast as they created one of the most outrageous and emotional deaths in the show!

With stage management by Ben Gomez and student direction from Dani Webb, technical and acting elements were tightly managed and balanced, while still leaving room for fun improvisations and successful special effects!

Riverside High School's Clue was caught red-handed with a colorful cast of characters, spectacular technical elements, and a creepy atmosphere full of laughs and mystery that had everyone questioning, "Whodunnit?"

Ivy Ridenhour
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

It was Professor Plum in the Lounge with the gun, or maybe it was Colonel Mustard in the study with the wrench. "No! It happened like this": it was Riverside High School in the auditorium with their thrilling production of Clue: on Stage!

Clue: on Stage is a comedic play written by Sandy Rustin. It's inspired by the classic board game and based on the 1985 movie by Jonathan Lynn. One night in 1954, six strangers find themselves invited to a mysterious dinner party at Boddy Manor. Secrets are revealed, people are killed, and plenty of insanity ensues.

This insanity was led by Aaron Eichenlaub as Wadsworth. A posh accent and a condescending attitude made Eichenlaub a classic butler. In the final scene, Eichenlaub's character evolved into a flurry of motion and imitation, jumping across the stage in excitement and falling to the floor in death. Another employee of Boddy Manor, Heather Stuart was "maid" to play Yvette. Throughout the show, Stuart could be found in the background cleaning, or dead on the couch. With an accent and high-pitched scream at the ready, Stuart added hilarity and life to the stage, even in death.

It wouldn't be Clue without the regular suspects. Miss Scarlet was portrayed by Gabi David, who performed the role with all the attitude and presence expected of the iconic character. Colonel Mustard was played by Brady Rufo. With a consistent physicality and a boisterous character voice, Rufo's portrayal of the Colonel was almost cartoonish. In every scene, whether Rufo was the focal point or backdrop, Mustard was animated and impossible to ignore. Mrs. Peacock was played by Snow Fox, whose one-liners and constant drinking brought the audience to laughter many times. Mr. Green was portrayed by Caden Barley, whose nervous voice and stiff body language made the reveal at the end all the more shocking. Completing the ensemble of socialites was Olivia Miniuk as Mrs. White and Alexander Footen as Professor Plum. Together, this ensemble solved the mystery of how to have good chaos on stage. Every panicked cacophony and mislaid plan seemed entirely natural. Every scene moved and flowed with effortless energy.

Seven of the characters may have been dead by the end of the show, but the stage was utterly alive at every moment. Thanks to the set team (led by Naina Sharma, Caden Barley and Sophia Coulopoulos) and props teams (led by Allison Parrish) the stage was full. There were paintings, table settings, bookshelves, and a chandelier. It wasn't static either, the bookshelves spun to reveal an evidence board and the paintings revealed passageways and safes. Lighting (designed by Ryder Quiggle) also brought the stage to life. Color-coded lighting that matched each character heralded their arrival as the show began. Throughout the entire production, bright colors brought the stage to life and lightning strikes that sparked behind the audience brought them right into the story. A final stand-out was Ryan Sweeney on piano. Sweeney's melodies added weight and atmosphere to each and every scene. Bringing it all together was the stage manager, Ben Gomez, and the technical Director, Marcely Villatoro. Every cue was snappy and synced with the action on stage. And the stage crew was near invisible as they moved set pieces on and off the stage.

With killer performances and tech that's to die for, it's no mystery how much effort and energy was put into Riverside High School's production of Clue: on Stage.

Katie Wood
Centreville High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

When six highly charged socialites get invited to a mysterious dinner party where their deepest secrets get threatened with police action, there is bound to be chaos. Some might even go as far as to say murder. An innovative stage adaptation of the classic board game of the same name, Riverside High School's "Clue" was packed with quick thrills and boisterous laughs encompassing the spirit of a true "whodunit" mystery. The drama unfolded after the baffling death of the manipulative host, Mr. Boddy, as the butler and the maid aided the guests in their search for the killer. Fueled by personal motives and past connections, each guest led themselves into guilty territory throughout the night, as a web of mystery shrouded each victim.

In Act One, Mrs. Peacock (Snow Fox) and Mr. Green (Caden Barley) used unreserved mannerisms that set the show's swift comedic pace with ease. Exemplifying the importance of physical humor in the show, Fox dramatically "fainted" on stage. Then in Act Two, Miss Scarlet played by Gabi David, used witty and sarcastic banter to show disinterest, and added depth to the layered mystery which was already rich with farcical humor.

Aaron Eichenlaub, who portrayed Wadsworth, evolved significantly between the two acts. Beginning as the seemingly reserved narrator who kept the composure of the group then later flourishing to be animated and uncontrollable, Eichenlaub demonstrated tremendous versatility. The passion steamed from Eichenlaub's final monologues to build lasting intensity through exuberant physicality and vocal inflection.

The cast acted as a true ensemble, with clear bonds and relational depths that enhanced the differing tensions growing between characters. Every minute on stage was used with care as the cast filled the space with natural ad-libbed reactions. However, a strikingly impactful moment in the show happened to be the only moment of true silence that graced the stage, strategically executed after the short-lived appearance of a singing telegram. From the skillful execution, it was hauntingly understood that the guests had become numb to the occurrence of murder because of the preceding deaths of momentary acquaintances.

One unique asset of the production was the live pianist, Ryan Sweeney, who unexpectedly interacted with the cast to deal out some of the most humorous moments of the show. Sweeney's impeccable playing controlled both the show's eerie and lively tones, adding to the candle-lit ambiance of Boddy Manor.

As the play revolved around several rooms residing in one house, Riverside's tech team faced unconventional challenges which were imaginatively overcome. From the floor to the rafters, the theater was transformed into a mansion reminiscent of the 1940s board game with 2D essence. Designed by Naina Sharma, Caden Barley, and Sophia Coulopoulos, then crafted by the Riverside Construction Crew, the set was complex and intimate. Notably, it was completed with spinning bookshelves, a painting that opened as a safe, and a secret passage in a window which gave immense functionality. Additionally, color took an imperative importance in both costuming and lighting for the show, further representing the iconic board game pieces. Lighting designer Ryder Quiggle and costume designer Natalia Fernandez-Davila Paredes used color to introduce and define the characters through door backlighting and differentiated color palettes.

When the night finally came to a close and Boddy Manor's doors locked the chilling events away, Riverside's cast and crew took a well-deserved bow. An impressive feat for all, Clue captured thoughts and twisted minds in the ultimate search for the guilty.

Ryder Ward
Rock Ridge High School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

Imagine an ordinary dinner party turned murder scene with the simple click of the lights. Everyone is a suspect, but they all have a foolproof alibi, so it seems. Fear hangs heavy in the air, for the guilty know who they are, but everyone else is wondering if they're next. The night goes on, new people are accused, and more motives are brought into play as to who could've done it.

In Riverside High School's production of "Clue: On Stage", mystery and wonder swirled as the very wealthy Mr. Boddy was murdered in his house after releasing blackmail on all his guests during a dinner party. Six mysterious socialites and a small handful of staff at the house join together to figure out who killed Mr. Boddy. No one wants authorities involved because everyone is a suspect. But one question remains unknown, who killed Mr. Boddy?

The play "Clue: on Stage" was adapted for the stage by Jonathan Lynn and Sandy Rustin, based on the hit movie that was released in 1985. The show was never on Broadway, however, it did have a national tour in 2019. It's famous for having multiple endings to keep the audience guessing who the true culprit is.

The exaggerated movements and gestures on stage helped to bring the play to life. The tone change with the movement of the actors' bodies was evident. Wadsworth, played by Aaron Eichenlaub, had the audience cracking up all night with the delivery of lines and mannerisms. Wadsworth had you second-guessing yourself at each turn, wondering just who did it. The strikingly gorgeous and mysterious Miss Scarlet was played by Gabi David. Scarlet wasn't afraid to admit what she'd done to be at the dinner. The dynamics with all the other characters on stage, especially Colonel Mustard, brought the show to life. The ever-patriotic Colonel Mustard, played by Brady Rufo, cracked up the audience all night. Mustard's movements were very dramatic but intentional, there was a reason for everything done. Mustard delivered the lines creatively while still staying true to the character.

The lighting and sound were all executed by students, who added a modern spin on the elements and made them their own. Ryder Quiggle took a very unusual inspiration for the lighting, which was from the crayons you'd get from a restaurant with a kid's meal; those bright colors were used. The colors not only signified what character was entering when, but they also helped to set a candlelit feel, creating a more mysterious ambiance. Sound wasn't used as you would normally think. Sound designer Aadi Sinha took from some out-of-the-box things such as "Among Us" and "Call of Duty Black Ops 4". Those inspirations showed the depth and modern spin on the sounds. The phone beep got louder when the door opened to the library and was one of the coolest sound effects in the show.

Riverside High School's production of "Clue: Onstage," performed with great attention to detail, and a perfect balance between creepy and hilarious. The show put the audience on the edge of their seats all night. As the night went on, every character was broken down to their core. The audience would start to root for a favorite character, only to realize, nobody was who they said they were at the start. So what do you say, do you dare to play Clue?