Interview: Craig Smith and Theresa Walker of CLUE

Craig Smith and Theresa Walker are no strangers to the Dutch Apple stage. He's been Bud Frump in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, among other memorable roles. She's been Ado Annie in Oklahoma, as well as in many other shows. The couple - they're engaged - are about to open in the musical murder mystery (perhaps musical murder comedy might be a better description) CLUE, based on the familiar Parker Brothers board game of murder and mayhem.

Broadway World just spoke to them about CLUE and other shows, past and future. In particular, we needed to know: is CLUE really like the board game? Walker says, "Kind of - it's interactive. We're playing the board game pieces in a very exaggerated way, bringing them to life."

Smith adds, "Dean (Sobon, the director) took the 1960s version of the board game as a basis for the set, so it looks much like the rooms in the game. I think they'll be projecting things, too." Walker explains that audiences will likely see projections of cards and dice rolls, and possibly moves. The set will become a huge, three-dimensional board with human pieces moving about to commit their murder.

For those who might be unfamiliar with the game, the actors provided some information about the plot. Walker explains that the show is narrated by Mr. Boddy, who, as one might guess from his name, is also the perennial victim of the story. Once he dies, the audience members use their powers of deduction as they watch action between the other parties unfold, so that they can try to eliminate locations (kitchen, library, ballroom, and other locales), characters (Professor Plum, Mrs. White, and others), and weapons to determine where Mr. Boddy died, who killed him, and how. It's a puzzle that could tax Lieutenant Columbo.

Walker plays Mrs. White, the housekeeper and cook, "which is the oldest character I've ever played. It's a challenge". She adds that she's developed her character by watching plenty of Monty Python. Smith plays Mr. Green, who might be the richest character he's ever played. "It's a lot of fun. We can exaggerate a lot. We're playing the ultimate stereotypes of these characters."

Although every engaged couple may have their quarrels, Walker and Smith assure us that neither of them will murder the other on stage. "Maybe with looks," Smith suggests. Walker lets us know that "Mr. Boddy is the only victim. But I interact with Professor Plum, and Craig gets Miss Scarlet."

"We plot to kill Mr. Boddy," says Smith. "I get tagged as the villain in a lot of shows, but these parts are fun!"

Do they get any romantic scenes together? That provokes laughter. Walker explains. "No, and you wouldn't want any romantic moments with Mrs. White anyway! It's a running joke in the show. She's not even someone you'd want in your kitchen and she's the cook!" Her cooking, however, isn't what kills Mr. Boddy., whether or not she's the murderer "I'm trying to channel a very obnoxious version of Helena Bonham Carter," she reveals. "Mrs. White is awful."

Have they had romantic scenes together in other shows? Yes, a lot, Walker says, but Smith points out that it hasn't happened lately. Walker reminds him that they were Ado Annie and Ali Hakim in Dutch Apple's OKLAHOMA last year. Smith protests. "But I didn't really like you! I was just trying to get lucky." He points out, however, that they first played against each other in Neil Simon's BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, and that the show was what brought them together. Walker agrees. "I liked BAREFOOT. We had great chemistry."

What other shows have they really enjoyed doing? Even though it was without Smith, Walker truly loves having been in 42ND STREET. "We both had fun in CRAZY FOR YOU and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING." Smith reveals that the cast in HOW TO SUCCEED... became so close that "three quarters of our bridal party was in that show." Walker says the cast is "petitioning to come back together for ANYTHING GOES."

We discuss that interactive murder mysteries are popular now, and that while CLUE isn't a participatory murder mystery in which audiences interact with characters as part of the story, there is considerable audience involvement. Smith explains that before the show even starts, three audience members will be asked to come on stage at some point in the show. They will select the character, the room, and the weapon that will be the demise of Mr. Boddy, though the rest of the audience won't know their choices. "Chris Violett plays Mr. Boddy. He has the hardest part. Not just because he gets murdered, but because he has to change his lines in the narration to fit whoever is the killer." Further, the actors point out, the audience has to follow the show closely to get the clues.

What will Dutch Apple audiences enjoy most about CLUE? Says Walker, "There's one point where an unexpected twist was mentioned, and everybody just went 'Oooh!'" Smith says that the audience will see that the cast is having fun on stage. According to Walker, "It's a farce. And people are playing a live board game!"

CLUE runs from February 19 through March 12. It's a short run, so catch it quickly. For tickets and information, visit www.dutchapple.com.

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