Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 28 May 2022
Reviewed by Kirsty Thomson
5*****
Could it have been Mrs White in the study with the revolver? Or could it have been Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with the candlestick?
This show, based on the 1985 film Clue by Jonathon Lynn, brings to life the well-known board game Cluedo, leaving the audience constantly guessing, who did it, and why?
The play is set in an old eerie manor in the middle of a thunderstorm. The guests, Miss Scarlett (Michelle Collins), Professor Plum (Daniel Casey), Colonel Mustard (Wesley Griffith), Mrs White (Etisyai Philip), Mrs Peacock (Judith Amsenga) and Reverend Green (Tom Babbage), each arrive one by one, greeted by the Butler, Wadsworth (Jean-Luke Worrell), dressed in the colour of their piece from the board game. Each of these guests carry an invitation from their anonymous blackmailer Mr Boddy, who in turn leaves them each a coloured box containing a weapon. From here the slapstick-comedy style murders begin, leaving the audience questioning who can be trusted.
The set and staging were particularly impressive. The board game contains an extensive variety of rooms, hard to display through one stage. David Farley’s set design allowed for walls to be pulled open to reveal new rooms, permitting the chaos of the characters to be observed moving from room to room very seamlessly.
The performance of Jean-Luke Worrell particularly stood out to me as Wadsworth. He displays incredibly high levels of energy and captivating facial expressions creating an unsettling but comical sensation for the audience. His monologue, which recaps the events of the evening was also notably impressive and received a round of applause from the audience.
This play truly brings the boardgame Cluedo to life and I would recommend it to anyone wanting an evening of fun and mystery.