Who did it? LCVI brings Clue to Flato Academy Theatre

The year 1949 saw Newfoundland join the Confederation, local Member of Parliament Leslie Frost become the premier of Ontario, and what was then called Lindsay Collegiate Institute mark its 60th anniversary. L.C.I. students who were attuned to the world of board games would have had another reason to celebrate, for it was in 1949 that “The Great New Detective Game” – better known as Clue – was launched in North America. To a generation reared on the hair-raising adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, being able to play the part of a detective from the comparative safety of their parlours was no doubt a thrilling experience.

 Clue went on to become a successful pop culture franchise, with a film of the same name released in 1985 that was adapted for the stage in 2017. It is this stage adaptation that LCVI is bringing to life on Thursday April 17.

A palpable sense of excitement sweeps across LCVI’s spacious drama room as cast members mill about, reciting their lines. Three large pieces of antiquated furniture, decked out in ivory-coloured upholstery, occupy one part of the floor, while other prop pieces protrude from the perimeter. Such is the scene encountered by Kawartha Lakes Weekly when attending a recent rehearsal.

Lindsay Curran, a drama teacher at the school, issues directions. Theatrical lighting casts an eerie glow over the room. A flash of what looks for all the world like lightning dances across the ceiling. Behind a window in the distance, the tech crew works their magic in mimicking the sound of thunder, adding to the increasing chaos of the spectacle unfolding before audiences’ eyes. Characters scurry across the floor, as though dashing throughout the mysterious old house in which a murder has taken place.

Who did it? With what weapon? In which room? The staging and lighting – not to mention a delightful dose of slapstick comedy – all contribute to an air of tremendous suspense in which the people on stage (and in the audience) must solve a mystery of epic proportions.

What isn’t a mystery, of course, is how this production came together. After last year’s success with Little Shop of Horrors, students looked forward to tackling another show and Clue became a fan favourite. “They were excited by the fast pace, comedic elements, and the challenge of bringing such iconic characters to life,” say Curran and her colleague, Brittany Zablosky. “Their interest and enthusiasm played a big role in our decision – we wanted to choose something they genuinely wanted to work on. Their excitement fed into our excitement.”

 One of those students is Murphy Graves, who played the villainous Orin Scrivello in Little Shop of Horrors and has been cast in Clue as Wadsworth, an uptight English butler whose dramatic personality is sure to delight audiences. “He’s very mysterious, very posh, and I find it fun to be doing the accent. He’s very humourous, charming, and suave,” Graves says of his character.

Another veteran of Little Shop of Horrors is Ella Wilson, who plays the part of Mrs. Peacock – a pious and somewhat neurotic woman who offers a dash of comic relief amid all the hubbub. “Throughout the show, she becomes more and more goofy, revealing her actual personality,” Wilson explains.

Grade 9 student Charlie Warpula is new to LCVI’s dramatic arts scene – but has proven his talents in taking on the role of Mr. Green, an officious, if anxious, gentleman noted for his zealous adherence to rules. “There’s a social anxiety, a nervousness, and a clumsiness about Green – but he also has a lot of funny moments,” Warpula remarks. “This feels like a character that I can identify with because I have definitely experienced those things in my life,” he continues.

Asked how Clue will resonate with audiences, cast members Graves, Warpula, and Wilson say that the story is ultimately one about deceit – something with which we are all too familiar in this world of cynical political manoeuvring and vociferous discourse online. “People put on an act, they put on facades because they worry what other people will think of them,” Warpula observes candidly. Curran and Zablosky offer another perspective. “At its core, Clue reminds us not to take life, or ourselves, too seriously. It shows how secrets, deceit, and assumptions can spiral out of control, but it also highlights teamwork and problem-solving in the most unexpected ways.”

As was the case in 2024, the cast and crew of Clue are enormously grateful to the broader community for their generosity. Thanks to the sponsorship of local businesses, these talented LCVI Spartans will have the opportunity to solve this mystery on stage at the Flato Academy Theatre come Thursday April 17 at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 at the door, can be purchased in advance online, or by scanning a QR code on posters displayed in various locations around the community.