While Riverside secondary ramps it up this week with its musical romp of Newsies, another high school on the other side of Port Coquitlam is taking a different tack for its theatre presentation.
Ten students at Archbishop Carney regional secondary are cast in the whodunnit Clue, a comedy based on the Hasbro board game of the same name as well as the 1985 film starring Tim Curry.
And, like Newsies, the school version of the show was recently released for amateur licensing rights.
The story of Clue follows six strangers invited to a dinner party at Hill House, located in New England. There, they are met by Wadsworth, a butler who gives the guests a nickname as they enter the home of Mr. Boddy: Miss Scarlet, Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Col. Mustard, Professor Plum and Mr. Green.
Wadsworth is the one who drives the narrative, said fine arts department head Charles Harris, and for the play, he is portrayed by Brett Wittal, who took on Jack Scott in last year’s High School Musical.
Natalie Warner, also in Grade 12, relishes her role as Mrs. White — the femme fatale who may or may not have killed her five ex-husbands.
“It’s the thrill of the murder that she likes,” said Warner, a former Mellado Dance Elite student who has been part of every Carney production since Grade 9.
Molly Symington, Grade 11, auditioned for the role of Mrs. Peacock, the church-going wife of a senator. “She’s very preppy but very over the top. It’s a lot of fun to be her,” Symington said.
Tony Kooliyath also won the part he auditioned for: Mr. Green, a timid klutz but a rule follower. “He’s a very intriguing person,” said the 17-year-old teen, without revealing any more character details.
For Rebecca Pinster, she’s stepping out of her comfort zone to portray Miss Scarlett in the extra-curricular production; it’ll be her first time in a major Carney show and “we’re having such a good time putting it together. It’s quirky and weird and, like us, you’ll definitely laugh through the entire play.”
Also cast are: Conor Devine as Prof. Plum; Jane Halliday as Yvette; Richard McLeod as Col. Mustard; and Bennett Renaud and Sara Van Gaalen in the ensemble; Kimberly Warner is a stage manager.
• Tickets for Clue On Stage: High School Edition — a presentation of Archbishop Carney Theatre — are $15 via brownpapertickets.com or email tickets@acrss.org. It runs at 7 p.m. the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam) on Feb. 28, and March 1 and 2.
