‘Clue’ on Stage at the NAC: Broadway Across Canada Delivers a Hilarious Whodunit

The game—I’ve played it many times. What kid doesn’t love the miniature candlestick, wrench, rope, and other would-be murder weapons? Then there’s the wonderfully illustrated board itself, offering a peek into a world of manor-house intrigue, complete with libraries, lounges, and secret passageways that fired the imagination.

Full disclosure: I hadn’t seen the Clue (1985) film starring Tim Curry and, until last night, was completely unaware that the original box-office dud went on to become a cult classic after its VHS release. Its multiple endings left theatre-goers confused, but once they were all included on the home release, they became a hit with viewers, who delighted in watching—and rewatching—the playful puzzle unfold.

Now on stage at the National Arts Centre until Sunday, January 11, Broadway Across Canada’s production of Clue, directed by Casey Hushion, is based on the 1980s Paramount Pictures film and inspired by the Hasbro board game. You may wonder how such a story translates to the stage. All I can say is: you have to see it.

This fast-paced farce relies on heightened physicality, exaggerated action, and razor-sharp timing, keeping the audience laughing right up to the final moment.

The curtain rises on the formal foyer of a 19th-century manor house. Wood panelling adorned with ornate mouldings, oversized family portraits, and glittering chandeliers establish a scene that is prim, proper, and ripe for chaos. It doesn’t take long before the hilarity ensues.

Butler Wadsworth, played brilliantly by Adam Brett, delivers a standout performance. From his expressive face and elastic body language to his perfectly timed one-liners, he is a near-constant source of laughter. We are also introduced to the French maid Yvette (Zoe Tannous), resplendent in her corseted uniform, and the cleaver-wielding cook (At Sanders), referred to simply—and ominously—as Cook.

Wadsworth soon welcomes a group of unsuspecting guests, their names instantly familiar to fans of the game: Mrs. White (Sarah Mackenzie Brown), Mrs. Peacock (Madeline Raube), Mr. Green (TJ Lamando), Miss Scarlet (Camille Capers), Colonel Mustard (Nate Curlott), and Professor Plum (Kyle Yampiro). After cocktails, they are ushered into the study, where the mystery begins to take shape.

The ingenuity of Lee Savage’s set design quickly reveals itself as the stage transforms before our eyes—unfolding rooms as though someone has grabbed the wall and given it a vigorous accordion tug. Before long, the guests are hustled into the dining room for a formal meal and instructed not to share personal information with one another—an amusingly odd rule, given that polite self-disclosure is the very foundation of small talk.

The ensemble cast is uniformly strong, and the playful physical references to the board game are a delightful nod to longtime fans. One particularly big laugh comes when Mrs. Peacock asks Wadsworth who built the manor house, to which he deadpans, “The Parker Brothers.”

Exaggerated body movements, wacky dance sequences, and the sudden appearance of murderous limbs from hidden wall panels heighten the slapstick humour. At just 80 minutes, the show is a burst of high-energy fun that flies by, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained.

Judging by the enthusiastic audience response, it’s hard not to wonder whether Broadway Across Canada might consider developing more stage plays alongside the musicals audiences have come to love. Perhaps even satirical stage adaptations of The Devil Wears Prada?

Tickets are still available for select nightly performances of Clue, with additional matinées on Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11. All tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster via the National Arts Centre website.

In 2026, fans of Broadway Across Canada in Ottawa can look forward to productions of & Juliet, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Mamma Mia!

Photos: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade