CCHS ready to perform ‘Clue’ this weekend

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

For about a month now, Kylie Effle has been watching “Clue” from her spot in the sound effects booth almost every weeknight.

From what she’s seen, over and over again, she thinks the audience is going to love the show this weekend.

“It’s come pretty far since the first time I’ve seen it,” she said. “From then to now, it’s like a whole different production.”

Effle, a junior, is a sound technician for the Charles City High School spring play, which will be presented Friday and Saturday at the North Grand Building.

“Clue,” a farcical whodunit, is based on the movie of the same name, which was based on the popular board game. The Friday  show will be at 7 p.m. while the Saturday show will be at 2 p.m. Directors are Michelle Grob and Mike Lembke.

“It will be a serious moment and then it’s just real comedic relief,” Effle said. “To try to make the show tie all together is really fun.”

Effle said that when she started drama in eighth grade, she realized performing on stage wasn’t for her, so she decided she could participate behind the scenes in the sound booth.

“I didn’t connect with the stage,” she said. “My freshman year there was opening for sound, and I thought sound effects sounded pretty fun.

“It’s been a huge challenge,” she said of this spring’s production. “The sound effects are a big part of the comedy in this play. The sound effects get nearly as many comedic moments as the actors on the stage do.”

The sound effects track includes gun shots, dogs barking, footsteps, thunder, creepy organ music and crazy chase scene music — all which need to be delivered with precision.

One of the actors, Griffin Franksain, said it’s been difficult delivering the punch lines to an empty house. He’s eager for the seats to be occupied this weekend.

“I know it’s going to be funny,” he said. “But it is a challenge having no one here in the audience and saying these jokes over and over again.”

Franksain plays the role of Col. Mustard in “Clue.”

“Col. Mustard has a few different identities,” Franksain said. “He can be scared, he can be serious and he tries to take charge, but overall he’s just a bumbling idiot. I’d say it was pretty hard to find those character traits and choose which ones to use at certain times.”

The rest of the cast is Ruby Peterson as Wadsworth, Jacie Wink as Mrs. Peacock, Cade Williams as Professor Plum, Cael Ruzicka as Mr. Green, Olivia Wolfe as Miss Scarlet, Ella Rogstad as Mrs. White, Jennah Bahl as Yvette, Nathan Shultz as Mr. Boddy, Christian Howe as the Cop, Anastasia Baldus as the Cook, Sincere Collins as the Motorist, McKenna Oleson as the Singing Telegram Girl, and Rosie Baldus, Kiarra Mashek, Lily Woodard, Emily Woodard and Eliza Wolford as FBI Agents.

Kristin George is stage manager, and the stage crew includes Jackie Rutherford, Matthew Hammond, Aliya Rodemaker, Brandon Ignacio-Castillo, Deven Ignacio-Castillo, Michael Reh and Katie Schwickerath.

Students on lights include Isaiah Ortiola and Tyrell Baglon, with Anna Herbrechtsmeyer and Hannah DeVore on spots. Sound technicians are Harley Onken and Effle.

Tickets will be available at the door for $5 for students and $8 for adults.

“They’re all going to see a very funny, and a very interesting, intriguing play,” Franksain said.