St. Joseph High School's production of Clue (High School Edition) turned Boddy Manor into a place where politeness is thin, secrets are not, and every corridor seems to be listening. The Cappies performance offered an unpredictable stage experience that kept the audience engaged from start to finish.
A Murder Mystery Unfolds
Adapted from the 1985 Paramount film based on the Hasbro board game and later staged by Sandy Rustin, Clue (High School Edition) is set in a 1950s manor where six strangers are summoned under ambiguous circumstances. What begins as an uneasy, formal gathering quickly destabilizes when their host threatens to expose long-buried secrets. From there, the evening fractures into shifting accusations, tangled motives, and rapidly evolving theories, where every answer seems to generate a new version of the question.
Standout Performances
At the centre of that controlled unravelling was Jaya Maunders as Wadsworth, the butler, who carried the production's momentum with a precise balance of order and escalation. Maunders maintained a sharp sense of control even as the situation accelerated, guiding transitions with clarity and intention. A particularly demanding sequence saw Wadsworth retracing the steps of the dinner guests, stepping into each role in quick succession. Each transformation was clearly defined through distinct changes in voice, posture, and physical rhythm, allowing multiple characters to exist cleanly within a single continuous passage of action.
As the ensemble's energy began to tighten and overlap, the cast worked in sync to maintain clarity within the mounting chaos. Zayne Mundy's Colonel Mustard brought a strong style of physical comedy to the stage, using exaggerated stillness, delayed reactions, and sudden bursts of movement to shape a character defined by both unpredictability and charm. Alongside him, Ella Marcogliese as Mrs. Peacock added a layered presence through precise vocal work and a subtle, recurring bird-like head motion that quietly reinforced her character's name and anxious energy. Diego Perez's Professor Plum complemented the group with a smug, self-assured tone, anchored by the recurring line "Stand back, I'm a doctor!", which returned throughout the performance with shifting emphasis and delivery, keeping the moment fluid and comedic.
Technical Design Enhances the Experience
These performances were supported by a technical design that quietly shaped the world around them. Lighting, operating on approximately 300 cues, did more than signal transitions. At key points, flashes of character-associated colours appeared, adding subtle layers of meaning. Props enhanced the stylized realism of the production, including a 3D-printed wrench and paper mâché food that sat comfortably within the heightened world of the play. Costumes completed the visual structure through distinct colour palettes and varied silhouettes, clearly distinguishing personality, status, and age.
Overall Impression
St. Joseph High School's Clue was a masterful blend of comedy and mystery, with a cast that handled the rapid-fire dialogue and physical comedy with ease. The production kept the audience guessing and laughing, making for a memorable evening of theatre. The combination of strong performances and thoughtful design created a cohesive and entertaining show that highlighted the talents of the student cast and crew.
