Great chemistry, impeccable timing spark nonstop laughs in ‘Clue’ at Bass Hall 

Sometimes a show is simply about having a great time, laughing and being anything but serious. Granted, that might sound like an oxymoron when said show is a murder mystery.

However, anyone who’s ever played the board game “Clue” will attest that it is an exception to the rule of most mysteries. Ever since the game was invented in 1943 by British musician Anthony Pratt, the search for a murderer has never been more fun.

So much fun, in fact, that it couldn’t be restricted to a game board — though the game can still be found in many households (including ours) throughout the world.

The game was made into a hilarious movie starring Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn in 1985. It remains something of a cult classic today.

Now, that same farcical fun is brought to the stage and audience members can get caught up in the side-splitting frivolity at Bass Hall as “Clue” is the latest in Performing Arts Fort Worth’s Broadway at the Bass Series Presented by PNC Bank. It is in town through March 30.

The plot is the same as always, six strangers are invited to a dinner party in an isolated mansion by a host who knows a dark secret from each of their pasts. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a butler named Wadsworth (played by Jeff Skowron), a French maid named Yvette (Elisabeth Yancey) and a scene stealing cook (Mariah Burks).

Each guest is given a pseudonym, Colonel Mustard (David Hess), Mrs. White (Donna English), Mrs. Peacock (Jennifer Allen), Mr. Green (John Shartzer), Professor Plum (Evan Zes) and Miss Scarlett (Christina Anthony).

It is revealed that each is being blackmailed by their host, Mr. Boddy (Alex Syiek). They also learn that Wadsworth has called the police, who will arrive in one hour, and they have until then to either kill Wadsworth or pay even more blackmail money.

Boddy then gives each guest a weapon — a candlestick, rope, lead pipe, wrench, revolver and dagger. Suddenly, the lights go out, but instead of Wadsworth lying dead on the floor when they come back on it is the body of Boddy (pardon the pun).

What follows is one laugh after another in melodramatic style, complete with musical “stings” and well-timed thunder to enhance dramatic moments — or, in this case, comical. There is indeed a murder to be solved — several, we discover as the mystery expands — and each must stay alive themselves to both find the killer and clear themselves of any suspicion.

Through it all the theme is trust no one and suspect everyone. At any moment someone could be the next victim or revealed as the dastardly destroyer (melodramatic, sure, but it has a nice ring).

There are no underlying deep messages in a show like “Clue.” And, honestly, you don’t want there to be.

It’s about pure enjoyment in an 80-minute setting. After all, any longer and you might have to see a doctor about your ribs after laughing so hard.

The script is delightfully corny in just the right spots. It features a wit that ranges from sarcastic (“An escort service in Washington, D.C.?”) to silly (when the butler is asked what he does, he responds, “I buttle.”) to a joke that would make the great Groucho Marx smile (“He threatened to kill me in public!” “Why would he want to kill you in public?”).

There’s a nod to the original game itself when Wadsworth tells the others, “This isn’t a game!” And even the company that popularized the game gets laughs when Wadsworth responds to a question about who designed the house with “The Parker Brothers.”

But who committed the murders? Rest assured, the zaniness leads to a solution — several, in fact.

To pull off a farce like this takes a cast with great chemistry and impeccable timing. Whether it’s a bit of dialogue, a facial expression or even physical humor that rivals the Keystone Cops, it all has to work in exact unison — and it does so masterfully with this cast, anchored by Skowron, who rarely leaves the stage.

And speaking of physical comedy, Shartzer is as limber as, well let’s just say you would do well betting on him in a limbo contest.

Older folks will be more familiar with the story that originated with the board game and likely have played it many times, along with having seen the movie at least once. Younger audience members, while they may or may not be familiar with the story, will nonetheless soon be caught up and guffawing loudly as well - as they proved during this performance..

After all, what’s not to like about a murder mystery that serves up as many laughs as it does, well, clues?