The Interlake Inquirer Spotlight (BEHIND THE SCENES): Clue!

Emma Huang

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You might’ve seen this year’s Fall Play, Clue, but have you ever wondered about the work that goes on behind the scenes to make the show possible? A few days before the play, we visited a rehearsal and were able to get a behind the scenes look, talking to the director, along with a few of the actors, as well as people in tech theater. 

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After entering the theater, Mr. Glover let us go onstage, where we could see the crew hanging out before the start of rehearsal; chatting while resting on a sofa (used in the play), yelling loudly with friends, and getting ready to start rehearsing. The crew were all very friendly and willing to answer some of our questions. Delilah Cohen (Mrs. White) tells us that she created her interpretation of the character by “experimenting with a few voices to see what flows, what [she] could project, and working with feedback on gestures.” Dashiell Pinck (Mrs. Scarlet) comments that her favorite part of being in Clue is “Definitely connecting with the cast because everyone is really awesome here, and this is my first play at Interlake.” Gia Papadopulos shared with us a funny story from rehearsal: “I found one of my friends who is not in the show outside and started talking to them, when then suddenly more and more people started coming to talk to them. It’s a funny memory.”

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We then proceeded to go backstage and into the makeup/costume room. We could see a large room packed full with a variety of different costumes hanging on racks. The makeup room was lined with mirrors and tables, scattered with makeup items, thread, tools, buckets of paint, and templates for the makeup of each character. While there, we had the pleasure of talking to the head costumer and Mrs. Peacock, Amarrah Gates. She explained that she “Came up with each character’s style by taking inspiration from their assigned colors, setting (it’s at a manor, a fancy dinner with high status characters) and time period.” Out of the costumes for all the characters in the play, she said, “My favorite is probably Ms. Scarlet- I love the dress. Or the Cook- it has a removable panel with a knife in it so the Cook can get stabbed.” She added that with tech teacher, she liked, “That we can see our work so clearly displayed, and [see] what happens behind the scenes.”

 

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By this time, the cast were onstage doing warm-ups and discussing in a circle. Before they started rehearsing, Mr. Glover had them practice how to safely fall (because of the many murders). As rehearsal began, we could see the curtains lowering and rising and the lights going off as they started from the beginning of the play. Occasionally a scene would need to be redone to get the timing of the dramatic scenes and over-exaggerated moments right, which Mr. Glover would direct and offer helpful advice on. The actors would readily redo the scenes, laughing and having fun, clearly showcasing the close and supportive community of the Interlake theater. 

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While the actors were onstage, there was no shortage of activity backstage, working to enhance the play by establishing the setting and mood. The crew were quickly moving props, operating lights and sound effects, and working together to get the right timing.  We asked some of the crew what they enjoyed about being in tech theater. We talked to the stage manager (Tabitha Wairera), the assistant director/backstage manager (Yasmine Alu), and the stage manager (Kate Grey), who said “It’s very therapeutic and there’s a very nice community built around it.”

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After nearly an hour and a half, the rehearsal came to an end, with the promise of continued practice the next day at rehearsal. Before we left, we managed to speak with Mr. Glover, and interview him about the production of Clue.  

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Q: Why did you pick Clue for this year’s fall play?

A: It’s based on the movie, and I always thought the movie was very funny and we have a lot of funny actors so I thought it was a good combination—funny script, funny actors.

Q: To you, what was the most challenging part of putting the play together?

A: The most challenging part is the amount of props this show requires but also the physical comedy, there’s a lot of falls and slaps and violence so we needed to do it safely.

Q: What was most surprising to you when working on the production?

A: How willing students were to play dead bodies.

Q: Do you have any advice for play auditions? 

A: Show up honestly and then just talk to me if you have any questions about the show, I’m really happy to offer advice. Also do a bit of research, because it really shows when someone has read the script and done research, they can really deliver.

Q: How would you describe your experience working on Clue in three words?

A: So damn funny.

Q: Any good stories from rehearsals?

A: Everyone in the cast is hilarious. I think it’s just watching them kind of become friends. At first no one really knows each other but after the show goes on they’re pretty tight.

 

Through watching a rehearsal of the play, we were able to get a glimpse into the time, hard work, and passion from the Interlake theater that made this year’s hilarious fall play Clue into the successful and entertaining show that it was.

 

Clue is clearly play with a complicated plot, but the flawless set changes, lighting work, and behind-the-scenes work of the crew made the production seem smooth and easy. Through the excellent performances of the cast and the creativity of the crew, Cluepresented a blend of comedy and murder-mystery suspense that captured both the excitement of the board game and the intrigue of the movie. The effort and time that the students and Mr. Glover put in to make the show a success was obvious to every member of the audience. 

 

Just like every Interlake production, Clue was a delight from start to finish! We’re excited to see what Interlake Theatre does next!