CLUE TEEN EDITION : Austin O'Brien High School

Read the Top 5 Reviews! All reviews are written by high school students in the Edmonton and surrounding area.

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By Ruth Young

St. Joseph’s Catholic High School

What do you get when you mix six suspicious guests, a stormy night, and a murder in a mansion? A night of unforgettable theatre. Austin O’Brien High School’s production of Clue took the classic 1950s whodunit and transformed it into a wildly entertaining, interactive experience that had the audience both laughing and leaning in with suspense. With live music setting the tone, clever references to the original board game, and a cast bursting with energy and comedic timing, this production delivered twists, turns, and a whole lot of personality. 

Set in a mysterious mansion in the 1950s, the story follows six eccentric guests, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, and Mrs. White, who are all invited to a dinner party under suspicious circumstances. It doesn't take long before things become chaotic, with secret passages, unexpected twists, and plenty of slapstick humor. It's a hilarious whodunit that keeps both the characters and the audience guessing until the very end.

At the heart of the chaos was Wadesworth, the witty and endlessly entertaining butler, brilliantly played by Ezra Stockburger. From his first moment on stage, Stockburger fully embodied the role with sly charm, sharp timing, and expressive physical comedy. His smirks, dramatic gasps, and side-eyes added rich layers to the character. On stage for nearly the entire show, his energy and commitment never wavered. Stockburger didn’t just play Wadesworth, he became him, turning the clever butler into a true comedic centerpiece the audience couldn’t get enough of.

Ellis Van Hees lit up the stage as the hilariously clumsy and lovable Mr. Green. With perfectly timed stumbles and wide-eyed reactions, his performance had the audience laughing every time. His portrayal was both funny and relatable, making him an instant favorite. Beyond acting, Van Hees also led the costume team, designing outfits that reflected each character’s personality through bold colors and unique details. His creativity shone both on stage and behind the scenes. Thanks to Van Hees’ and the rest of the costume team’s eye for detail and flair for expression, the wardrobe became an extension of the characters themselves.

Each set change brought something new and exciting to watch. Whether it was the ensemble sneaking in little visual gags, striking exaggerated poses, or simply being hilariously chaotic in the background, there was always a reason to keep your eyes peeled. These transitions felt like mini-performances on their own, funny, clever, and full of entertainment.

Austin O’Brien’s Clue was a brilliantly executed whirlwind of mystery, laughter, and charm. With standout performances, clever audience interaction, improvised live music, and eye-catching costumes, the show kept everyone entertained from start to finish. It wasn’t just a high school production, it was a night of theatre that left the audience grinning, guessing, and wanting more.

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By Brianna Farough

Morinville Community High School

Look over there! If we follow this trail of hints, you'll find the comedic, suspense-ridden tale of Austin O'Brien High School's Clue. Filled with laughs, gasps, and plot twists that will leave your jaw on the floor, this group of students has put on a show worthy of the press. From Stockburger's iconic performance as Wadesworth to the exceptional musical talent of Castanares, Ball and Treleaven, this cast's hilarious characterization, beautiful set work and clever stage choreography swept the audience away into a world of secrets and scandals, leaving us with one question- who dunnit? 

When six Washingtonians get invited to a party at a mysterious manor, each partygoer is given an alias and a weapon by a peculiar butler- who seems to know more than he lets on. When the master of the house is found dead, oddballs Ms. Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Ms. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard (played by Ximena Izquierdo, Sasha White, Jamila Isabedra, Ellis van Hees, Lilla Essinger, and Xander Cuthbertson, respectively) accompanied by house butler Wadsworth (played by Ezra Stockburger) team up to look for clues and catch the killer before the police arrive. Based on the board game and film of the same name, Clue is a fast-paced, suspenseful comedy that leaves the audience's jaws on the floor long after the mystery is solved. 

No murder mystery can be without a suspect- or six. The quick-humoured cast of this show maintained brilliant characterization throughout, including frantic movements, exaggerated monologues, and quick-witted remarks that never failed to get a laugh. Even minor roles like Nyssabella Kiss's Yvette and Anastasiia Savchuk's Unexpected Cop helped elevate the performance to greater heights. Even improvised, sudden comic movements from ensemble members such as Tomas Peter Lepki and Taras Struk made hilarious moments out of ordinarily ignored set changes. Not to be forgotten, lead actors White and van Hees embodied their characters and left the audience with laugh-sore stomachs. This cast brought life into their characters uniquely and brilliantly, vital to making this show one to remember. 

Theatre is much more than who's on stage, especially in a technical show like this one. Beyond the actors, beautiful staging and set work stitched together the world of Clue and set it apart from the rest. In addition, the student-led lighting team brilliantly lit and focused on every actor and scene perfectly. Finally, the theatre's 3-student pit band not only performed but wrote 

bits of soundtrack for the play. Students like Liam Smith, Nathan Belzile, Ishman Gill, and so many more truly made something to be proud of with this production. 

The cast and crew of Austin O'Brien's Clue managed to marry together lighting and sets with characterization in a way that pulled the audience into the world of this murder mystery and left them with sore stomachs and smiles on their faces. The students in this production have made something to be proud of, and this reviewer cannot wait to see what they come up with next year.

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By Darby Fedoruk

Archbishop MacDonald High School

Six dead bodies, six murder weapons, and six suspects, each uniquely motivated and armed…  Blackmail and murder are on the menu as a mysterious dinner party takes a fatal turn, raising the question: will anyone make it out alive? Austin O’Brien’s production of Clue transformed audience members into witnesses of not only murder, but also of an extraordinary performance. The cast spun an intricate web of mystery, scandals, and lies that left the crowd wondering how far some people will go to protect their secrets.

Adapted by Sandy Rustin, Clue is based on both the murder mystery board game from 1949 and the cult classic 1985 film by Jonathan Lynn. Beloved by community and high school theatres since it was released in 2018, the play follows the story of six strangers with one thing in common: a blackmailer set on exposing them to the world for their crimes. As the story unfolds, the audience is immersed in a thrilling world of both murder and comedy while the characters attempt to uncover a killer before they become the next victim.

As secret after secret is revealed, one important question remains unanswered until the very end: who is the killer? If you are looking for a straight answer, certainly don't look at Mr. Green. The flamboyant, clumsy, and lovable character captured the audience’s hearts from the moment Ellis van Hees took the stage. His incredible grasp of physical comedy coupled with dramatic facial expressions left spectators fighting to catch their breath from laughter. Van Hees added tremendously to the hilarious dynamics between the rest of the ensemble, who were each a piece of an intricate puzzle that the audience was dying to solve.

Equally deserving of recognition was Ezra Stockburger, playing the suave and charming butler, Wadsworth. He truly went out with a bang, along with the fitting final words, “remember me.” Remember him we shall, as it was a performance genuinely impossible to forget. His showstopping monologue at the climax of the play was only overshadowed by possibly the most dramatic and uproarious death scene in theatre. Although it wasn't a musical, Stockburger graced the crowd with his musical talent by taking full advantage of his swan song - and each reprise - in his character’s final shining moments. Stockburger was a driving comedic force throughout the entire show, and his glow of stardom lit the way for each of his fellow cast members to shine just as brightly.

The talented students of Austin O’Brien clearly poured their hearts and souls into this performance, making it a spectacular experience from beginning to end. Each element of the show fell together perfectly, from the remarkable live band to the flawlessly executed scene transitions during which the cast managed to dive even deeper into character. And as for whether Mr. Green, Ms. Peacock, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Colonel Mustard, or Ms. Scarlet were guilty? Who's to say it wasn’t all of the above?

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By Samrta Sabharwal

Victoria School for the Arts

From its jaw-dropping story to its entrancing live music, Austin O’Brien’s production of Clue: High School Edition is a captivating show that will leave you breathless. Delving into themes of secrecy, deception, and blackmail, Clue: High School Edition is a comedic masterpiece that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Clue: High School Edition is based on the original 1943 game and 1985 movie. The story follows six mysterious guests, who are invited to a dark and isolated mansion. The guests; Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard, along with the secretive butler named Wadesworth, find themselves in a whodunnit murder mystery when the owner of the mansion is suddenly killed. 

One of the most memorable aspects of the show was the slapstick comedy. Ellis van Hees, who plays Mr. Green; Xander Cuthbertson, who plays Colonel Mustard; and Lilla Essinger, who plays Ms. Peacock, were always able to bring the audience to tears from laughing. Another breathtaking highlight was the characterization. Characters like Mrs. White, played by Jamila Isabedra, Prof. Plum, played by Sasha White, and Ms. Scarlet, played by Ximena Izquierdo, were brought to life in a way that was faithful to the original, yet spectacularly unique as well. Wadesworth, played by Ezra Stockburger, brought many laughs and gasps to the show with his entrancing acting performance and playful banter with the rest of the cast. Additionally, having no mic’s, the entire cast was able to strongly project over the music of the live pit band. The live pit band, consisting of Felissa Jean Marie Castanares, Lydia Ball, and Alex Treleaven, used scores from the original movie to create a mystifying atmosphere of suspense. The live music and sound effects made the entire experience more immersive. 

In addition to the hard work of the cast, there were countless technical elements that helped bring the world of ‘Clue’ to life. The Lighting team, featuring Ajang Awac and Liam Smith, used intense spotlights of different colors, to create dramatic effect. This, coupled with the elaborate moving set(designed by Ishman Gill, Jesitta Jilju, Eve Oska, Georgia Stone, Camila Heber, Lilla Dias Lima Essinger, Casey Young, Jayna Belzile, and Isabel Khineyko Lopez), helped transport the audience into a realm of drama and intrigue. 

Overall, Austin O’Brien’s rendition of Clue: High School Edition was a breathtaking comedy that, combined with the efforts of the cast and crew, transported the audience into an alternate world filled with murder and mystique.

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By Maya Palka

St. Oscar Romero High School

What do you get when you mix a thunderstorm, a mysterious mansion, six eccentric strangers, and a whole lot of murder? The suspenseful, whimsical and wildly entertaining  play Clue! With exaggerated characters, rapid-fire dialogue, and clever staging, Austin O’Brien’s production delivered pure theatrical chaos with captivating precision– enchanting the audience from start to finish! Backed by an immensely talented cast and crew, this show had everyone not wanting it to end. 

Originally inspired by the 1949 board game and adapted from the cult-favorite 1985 film, Clue brings a beloved mystery to life in theatrical flair. Set in a grand but eerie mansion, the story follows six animated and colourful characters, each invited under suspicious circumstances. But murder strikes, chaos erupts. The guests must race to uncover the killer while navigating blackmail, secret passageways and growing paranoia. Blending playful deduction with satirical storytelling, Clue turns a simple whodunit into a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud spectacle. 

What’s the real weapon? Perfectly timed comedy. This cast had pace as quick as the dialogue, they didn't just keep the audience guessing– they kept them laughing. The manic maestro Ezra Stockburger as Wadesworth orchestrated the madness with impeccable timing and unstoppable energy. Stockburger’s projected fast-talking, witty characterization and wildly unpredictable character choices was nothing short of electrifying. Ellis van Hees’ portrayal as Mr. Green was compelling through brilliantly amplified physical comedy and expressive reactions, Van Hees became a comedic anchor in every scene he stepped into. Van Hees proved that sometimes the quietest characters can leave the loudest impressions. Sasha White brought a delightfully unhinged energy to the role of Professor Plum, toeing the line between clueless academic and accidental suspect with sharp comedic accuracy. Whether sprinting across the stage, pulling stunts or running into the audience, White never broke character once– maintaining Plum’s frantic persona with impressive consistency. 

The ensemble wasn’t just moving set pieces– they were moving the show forward with style, precision and a healthy dose of ridiculousness. Far from being simple stagehands, Tomas Peter Lepki, Taras Struk, Ayla Austin brought their own flair to the story. They helped make the world of Clue feel hilariously alive– proving that in this murder mystery, even the “bodies” in the background were stealing the spotlight. 

No mystery is complete without atmosphere, and Austin O’Brien nailed it– thanks to a perfectly timed pit band that added punchlines with every musical cue. The set design was cleverly simple yet effective, with four coloured doors representing different rooms in the mansion, allowing for fast, chaotic transitions. Posters of each guest hung in the theatre and were spotlighted at key moments, adding cinematic flair, while the lighting team brought drama and suspense to every twist, death and ridiculous reveal. Together, these technical elements elevated the comedy and kept the audience fully immersed in the madness. 

In the end, it didn’t matter who did it– the real killer was the comedy presented by the cast and crew of Austin O’Brien! A murder mystery this funny should be considered criminal. 

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