Aylesbury Waterside Theatre – until Sat 26th October 2024
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
4***
Lots of laughter was brought by this production of Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter and you don’t need to have seen the first Cludeo, I haven’t. Written by Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks – winners in 1993 of UK television top writers award – they jointly won the British Academy Writers Award, they have worked on many television and theatre productions together. This stage production was directed by Mark Bell best known for directing the The Play That Goes Wrong, which is now in its 10th year which has also been a great success. The production is based on the board game, the the set is based on the actual board and the board game characters have come to life.
The audience were laughing all the way through and even more so in the second half, this production not only has the sense of humour of the witty one liners but but by way they acted, doing the odd freeze/pause of the characters. Mrs White played by Dawn Buckland was very funny and stood out along with Wadsworth that was apparently playing the part that he was an actor and arrived at the manor to take part in a commercial for Gin, but he was often mistaken as a butler. Mrs White was a housemaid that knew everything that was going on in the manor house and didn’t miss a trick, or did she? Ellie Leach know for her win of Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 and her part in Coronation Street, Ellie plays Miss Scarlet, this play marks her stage debut and she entertained us throughout. Jason Durr from many a TV show, film and Theatre including TV Inspector Morse and Midsummer Murders played Colonel Mustard brilliantly. Liam Horrigan played Mr Black and other parts including the hilarious Detective whom was oblivious to the murders that had taken place.
This is a great slap stick comedy lots of humour and witty one liners , but you would only want to see it the once I expect once you know who the murderer is. The basic story is Mr Black is married to Mrs Peacock and Mr Black is murdered, but who did it? the wife? Or Miss Scarlet who came in the do the interior design on the property, or his manager Colonel Mustard , not forgetting Rev Green and Professor Plum , Mrs White or Wadsworth, but then we also have Mr Grey who appears on the scene.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but more so the second half it seemed funnier and had more content. Glad I saw it and would definitely go to a Cludeo 3 if there is on in the pipeline.