A pool maintenance boy has been murdered at a mansion party. Was it Mrs. Off-White in the conservatory with the candlestick? Or Colonel Mushroom in the study with the revolver? Or Mrs. Woodpecker in the billiard room with a rope?
Vegas Theatre Company has the answer, and they’re solving the mystery in Cluelesque, a burlesque-infused parody of the 1985 comedy film Clue. The play, which will have its world premiere January 10, uses burlesque to drive the story forward.
“It’s not just a burlesque [act]. It’s a narrative burlesque. This is more using the art of burlesque … to unveil not just the body that the actor has, but also the secrets,” creator and writer Simone Skold, “Simone,” tells the Weekly.
VTC’s artistic director Daz Weller says this is the first time the company has integrated burlesque into a storyline.
“It’s a real meeting of different worlds. Often burlesques are generally kind of self-contained. There’ll be a tiny kind of narrative arc in the striptease. And so [the play] expands the possibilities of the burlesque when you are using a fully fleshed-out character,” Weller says.
By shedding both clothes and clues, the actors bring the iconic suspects and plot to life. Their roles require a lot of vulnerability, actors said at a rehearsal less than a month before the play’s opening night.
“There’s always a lot of trust involved,” said Glenn Heath, who plays Professor Prune.
“I’ve go-go danced. … but this is going to be completely different because I’m older [now],” said Jackie Lakoudis, who plays Ivet the maid. “But I’ve come into my own where I love my body. We’re here to represent every body, literally.”
Simone says that positivity and ownership of one’s body is “one of the gifts of burlesque.”
“Because you can’t hide behind anything when you’re that naked on stage,” he says, stressing that burlesque is for all body types and all ages.
That vulnerability will be palpable for audiences. VIP ticket holders will be seated at cabaret tables and “part of the party,” just a corset string away from the performances–which, by the way, will be done with the backing of a live band.
“We’re not putting up the fourth wall. We’re going to look you in the eye; some of the characters will talk to you; and the burlesque scenes will involve you as well. We’re performing for you,” Simone says.
In case you haven’t already figured it out, Clue, the movie, is based on the popular board game. And like the movie and the game, Cluelesque will have different endings each night. Audience members will be asked to cast their votes for who they believe committed the murder.
“Not even the performer will know that it’s them until it’s announced on stage,” Weller says.
Cluelesque Thru 1/27, Friday-Sunday & 1/22, times vary, $40-$60, theatre.vegas.
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