Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – until Saturday 5th October 2024
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
4****
Cluedo 2 the classic boardgame that we all know and love and have played many times comes to life at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford.
The classic who done it story unfolds with the well know characters Colonel Mustard (Jason Durr) Miss Scarlett (Ellie Leach) Mrs Peacock (Hannah Boyce) Mrs White (Dawn Buckland) Professor Plum (Edward Howells) and Reverend Green (Gabriel Paul). Who are also joined by Rick Black (Liam Horrigan) and Wadsworth (Jack Bennett) to name a few. The production opens with all characters in a 17-bedroom Mansion, owned by Rick Black, who has invited them all there for the preview of his new album. Suddenly thunder roars lightning strikes the lights go out and when they come back on all the characters appear holding the famous Cluedo murder weapons and Mr Black jokingly states that “no one gets out of here alive”!!!
As they all come together for his masterpiece to be revealed in his study/studio. They discover that he has been murdered! But when all the guests take a closer look, its not your run of the mill murder it extravagant with the victim having be stabbed, throttled, shot and hit on the head potentially with the weapons they were previously seen holding. Now several motives and suspects come in to play with everybody looking at each other. wondering who’s the guilty party!
Each individual actor played their own parts extremely well, but as an entire cast they all came together brilliantly with on point comedic timing bouncing off each other showing the obvious great connection that they shared on stage.
I particularly loved Mrs Whites character that had attitude, she isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind whilst putting the fright into them all, before she goes off to steam the veg – very entertaining!
Wadsworth also offers much comedy shown through physical actions by prancing across the stage with much energy bursting into lyrics, as well as his constant insistence that he is an actor playing a butler and not actually a butler!
The stage was set with the boardgame as a backdrop and a model of the 17-bedroom mansion in front. The windows of which lit up showing you which rooms they were in alongside doors being brought onto the set a very simple but effective way to let the audience know where they were situated in the house. Some amazing choreography was used alongside simple props such as portraits and a billiard table to create the illusion of the cast’s movements between rooms causing the audience to laugh out loud.I really enjoyed this production it was very entertaining, and I would recommend going to see it whilst you can.