By Jenny Hubbard

For the Salisbury Post

Bob Paolino, beloved local actor and veteran of Salisbury theater, returns to the Piedmont Players stage for the first time in a while, playing Colonel Mustard in “Clue,” which runs April 19-28 at the Meroney Theatre.  

He played the same role at Lee Street three years ago.

“It’s a fun character. Period,” Paolino said. “That’s why I wanted to do it again.” 

He has enjoyed working with Matt Webster, a first-time director for Piedmont Players who reports that his experience here has been a very positive one. Webster, an educational consultant and former teacher, notes that directing is a lot like teaching: “As a director, I have to be able to communicate clearly enough for the actors not only to understand, but also to execute. When you communicate clearly, you get better results.”

Webster trusts his actors, and it’s this trust that makes this fast-paced comedy work.

“It’s a farce. Speed is essential. With farce, you’re living at the edge of control,” he said. 

Clue, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by Sandy Rustin, is inspired by the board game, and Webster plays, literally and figuratively, with that two-dimensional space. We see Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Miss Scarlett, Mrs. White, Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard and colored-coordinated doors that lead to those familiar rooms (kitchen, ballroom, study, conservatory, etc.). In the play, the bodies pile up. Like the board game, it proceeds like a mystery in need of solving — with plenty of humor along the way.

Ashonta Johnson, the play’s stage manager, is also a first-timer. A senior at Central Piedmont Community College, she says, “I came to auditions, and the director gave me a chance.” She’s grateful for it. Webster also offered that same chance to local high-schooler Zoey Waters, assistant stage manager, who says, “It’s a handful, but I love it.” Mona Rey, another first-timer, assistant-directs as training for her upcoming role as stage manager of PPT’s Sweeney Todd.

These three young people help Paolino, who prefers spicy brown mustard to Dijon, stay on task.

“I need to keep my mind sharp,” he said. Line memorization is good for 72-year-olds.