Bethel Renaissance Theatre Presents "Clue"

McKENZIE — The Bethel University Renaissance theatrical cast is presenting "Clue," a murder-mystery farce promising murder, mystery, and mayhem. The show combines suspense with slapstick, puns, and physical comedy.

Tickets are now available for this Spring semester production. The venue is the Bethel University Performing Arts Center (the former First Cumberland Presbyterian Church) at the intersection of Church and Stonewall streets.

Production dates are:

• Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 11, at 7 p.m.,
• Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m.
• Friday, April 17, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.bethelrenaissance.com/box-office.

The story is set in 1954 at Boddy Manor near Washington, D.C., on a "dark and stormy night". Six guests arrive under aliases: Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and Miss Scarlet. They are greeted by Wadsworth the butler and Yvette the maid. The guests soon discover they are all being blackmailed by their host, Mr. Boddy, who is subsequently murdered.

A chaotic race ensues to find the killer, weapon, and location as more bodies—the Cook, a Motorist, a Cop, and a Singing Telegram Girl—pile up. Like the film, the play features multiple endings.

Cast and Characters

The show features the following cast members and roles:

• Wadsworth (uptight British butler/narrator) - Quinton Slater
• Mr. Green (timid, clumsy, anxious rule-follower) - Nathan Salvador
• Professor Plum (academic) - Cooper Neely
• Colonel Mustard (pompous and dense military man) - Jayden Hendricks
• Miss Scarlet (dry, sardonic madam) - Grace Barber
• Mrs. Peacock (batty, neurotic wife of a senator) - Caraline Callahan
• Mrs. White (pale, morbid, tragic figure) - Grace Brown
• Yvette (flirtatious French maid) - Haylie Bowien
• Mr. Boddy (the blackmailer host) - Braylen Sain

Other characters include Zowie Tipton (The Cook), Bailey Covington (Singing Telegram Girl), Izsabella Orchard (Motorist), Townes Boyd (Cop), Kaleb Sons (Chief), Blake Bell (Newscaster/Cop), and Michael Lowery (McCarthy/Cop). 

The staging is fast and frenetic, making the set crucial to the farcical action. Boddy Manor's multiple rooms, such as the Study, Library, and Kitchen, are represented through innovative staging. This is achieved using rolling set pieces, a revolving stage, moving walls, and hidden passageways. Original music by Michael Holland underscores the action and enhances suspense.

 

About Bethel University

Bethel University, located in McKenzie, Tennessee, is a Christian institution committed to academic excellence and personal growth. Offering a diverse range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, Bethel equips students to lead with purpose and impact in their communities and beyond.