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Murder turns into controlled comic chaos when Clue takes over the National Theatre for a limited engagement from Jan. 27 through Feb. 1.
Inspired by Hasbro’s classic board game and the 1985 Paramount Pictures film, the touring stage production combines physical comedy, quick dialogue and familiar moments from the cult favorite. The mystery unfolds at Boddy Manor, where six secretive dinner guests become entangled in blackmail, deception and a growing pile of bodies.
As the suspects scramble through the mansion, the production keeps the possible weapons and culprits in constant motion. Mrs. Peacock, Colonel Mustard and the rest of the group race to uncover the truth before the final reveal.
Director Casey Hushion emphasizes speed, precision and ensemble timing. Her staging retains the film’s eccentric spirit while making the story accessible to audience members unfamiliar with either the movie or the board game.
Kyle Yampiro plays Professor Plum, the intellectual and eccentric character portrayed by Christopher Lloyd in the film. Yampiro approaches Plum as a relatively restrained figure who helps connect the larger ensemble and sets up many of the show’s jokes.
“Professor Plum is often the setup guy,” Yampiro said. “He’s quirky, but more reserved. I really enjoy being a bit of the glue — helping the punchlines land and being part of the larger tapestry of the show.”
Yampiro grew up in Franklin Square on Long Island and initially pursued music, playing trombone before trying vocal performance. A high school crush led him to audition for musical theater, where he found a new passion and some of his closest friends.
“I had never really sung before,” he said. “But I fell in love with it, found some of my closest friends doing theater and realized this was something I wanted to pursue.”
He later studied at the University of Delaware and James Madison University, earning a Master of Music in Voice Performance and a Doctor of Musical Arts. After nearly a decade of music education, he moved into professional theater and performed in productions around the country.
Yampiro pursued Clue while completing a cruise ship contract, submitting video auditions for several touring shows before enduring months of callbacks.
“Auditioning is the hardest part of the job,” he said. “Getting to do the work is the harvest from all of that effort.”
The stage adaptation incorporates recognizable lines and scenes from the movie. It does not cycle through multiple endings as the film did during its original theatrical release, but Yampiro said the play still reflects the spirit of those twists.
“There’s definitely movie fan service,” he said. “But it’s not an inside joke. People who’ve never seen the movie or played the game still have a great time.”
The production treats its string of murders as farce rather than grim suspense. Visual jokes, wordplay and rapid scene changes propel the mystery while keeping its tone deliberately light.
The ensemble also features Camille Capers as Miss Scarlet, Nate Curlott as Colonel Mustard, Madeline Raube as Mrs. Peacock, Sarah Mackenzie Baron as Mrs. White, TJ Lamando as Mr. Green and Adam Brett as Wadsworth. Joseph Dalfonso, Zoie Tannous, AT Sanders and Kebron Woodfin portray an assortment of supporting characters.
For Yampiro, the show offers audiences a chance to set aside everyday concerns and spend a few hours with an unabashed comedy.
“It’s a play about murder, but it’s entirely light,” he said. “You can leave your life and your troubles at the door and just enjoy laughing for a couple of hours.”