CLUE…less : Physical style mystery theatre heats up as the dinner cools down!!

Photo. Andrew Alexander

Eddie May’s recent show is exactly the kind of theatre that its patrons would want to see. Based on Parker Brothers board game with a smithering of Murder by Death logic in the mix, it has seven hyper active characters who are all being blackmailed because of their criminal past. Drawn into a closed space by a mysterious person who will only remain a voice, they are manipulated by the voice and the situation and other things, until the identity of the blackmailer (and possible murderer) is discovered! In the meantime, the audience is asked to make suggestions about the blackmailer’s identity as the past of each of our intruders is brought to light. The text, which was written recently involves characters who do work “up on the hill” which made me wonder why they didn’t put in more topical pot shots at the politicians but as they said, they are not being topical. Still, any writer working in such a comic atmosphere could not have resisted the chance, given all the marvellous material at their disposal in the press recently. This makes me feel that writing is not the main focus of this group. They prefer action and that is what we got.

The formula is well known but it makes the show move. . Creepy music that announces astounding declarations. Hidden compartments that make people disappear; bodies that pile up in the dark as the lights come back on to reveal the dastardly deeds. Masses of clues that lead us all over the place. Mostly though, this show which is a bit of a collective effort, has the mark of Zach Counsil’s physical acting style and that was the thing I liked the best. Each of them is identified with a physical acting trait as they introduce themselves and then try to pry the truth out of each other. Mrs. Peacock has a definitely cocky Mary Walsh presence as the no nonsense oil baroness form Alberta., Colonel Mustard has swayingly unhinged bottom parts that are usually soaked in alcohol after his 17 tours of Afghanistan, Loquacious Green the pleasant twitter junky from up on the hill holds his own with the slightly disturbed Professor Plum who has a rubbery face that takes on various moods according to the experiments he is up to in his lab. There is a Mr. Body who …who is really NO-Body, a Miss scarlet who checks coats on the hill and engages in definite illicit things as she slinks around the stage and the French maid who is clearly not French at all. They all rush about sometimes in choreographed movements (the silent film chase through the restaurant), getting into wrestling matches, sometimes making sounds that suggest the physicality of their work. Often they even suggest the vulgar jabbering bodies of the commedia style creatures whose faces seem to turn into masks, bringing them into the tradition of popular street theatre and not the sophisticated milieu of a Miss Marple style investigation. At least they have a very coherent sense of style which is very good.

The room is beautiful, the meal was served by pleasant waitresses , the tables were comfortable, the dinner was a bit on the unwarmed side and the site lines on the side of the room were not perfect, so do try to sit where you get a frontal view of the stage. Most of all, the audience laughed and that is what it is all about. So if Eddy May and Scarlett’s Dinner Theatre events are your thing, you will know what to expect and you will get exactly that!

CLUE…less plays at the Scarlett’s Dinner Theatre in the Velvet Room. At 62 York st. in the Byward Market

Show starts at 7pm, seating and ordering of meals begins at 6h30.

Directed by Zach Counsil

Written by Zach Counsil, and the “I Digress Players” : Geoff McBride, David Brown, Melanie Karin, Ray Besharah, Kate Boone, David Rowan, and Gabrielle Lazarovitz

Set and lighting design: David Magladry

Original music and sound design by Steven Lafond

Costumes by Jody Hauke.

For reservations call 613-850-9700 or email: murder@eddiemay.com