Cluedo 2 is a reimagining of a new murder mystery, rather than any kind of sequel to the first play Cluedo: not unlike the different solutions each time you play the board game which lends its name to the play. Celebrating being 75 years old this year, Cluedo has spawned many different inventions of itself: a classic film, both UK and US stage shows and a UK television show, as well as many different versions of the board game.
For this new version, set in the rock star music world of 1968, the set is impressively of the time and beautifully abstract with a lit board game at the back of the stage and square board game edges reducing in angles towards it. Windows and items of set come flying in from above or wheeled on by cast as part of the action, including doors, big pieces of kitchen, conservatory, arm chairs and a mixing sound desk for music recording.
The set changes, moving the cast from room to room in perfectly timed choreographed movements from every single person; including Miss Scarlet walking through a door as it moved in one instance, are some standout scenes in the production. There are some funny moments of playing vertical billiards, and comedy set pieces of cast holding up portraits in front of their own heads while cast ‘walked’ through the house, or hid themselves in blank frames. However, these stylised set pieces seem to become longer and longer as the play progresses. What starts therefore as quite clever and impressive becomes a joke that is told too many times.
The cast, however, are great. It’s clear that they are enjoying being part of this spoof comedy murder mystery and this spreads to the audience delightfully. This version embraces being in England in a manor bought by rock star Rick Black, and unlike the other plays: Mrs White is really a cook and there is a Reverend Green rather than Mr Green. For people in the UK who have grown up playing the board game, this is a refreshing nod to the classic version.
Ellie Leach is wonderful in her stage debut as Miss Scarlett, with great stage presence through all her moods of being sweet and helpful to having more nuance as the play progresses. Parts of the script seem to have been adapted for her personally, coming straight from her Strictly Come Dancing win, to include an Argentine tango moment in the ballroom and a comment saying “she can dance” among other things.
Jason Durr makes a likeable Colonel Mustard reminiscent of Sam Elliot, including the Southern US drawl which works well, and Hannah Boyce is a lovely stuck-up money-grabbing Mrs Peacock. Liam Horrigan is really wonderful as Rick Black and a succession of other characters including a Mr Grey and Inspector Brown which he marks very differently from each other, in walking, voice, and other physical traits. He is gorgeously reminiscent of Tim Curry in more than just looks, which is very welcome: Tim Curry being the crucial component of the original 1985 movie Clue.
The funny parts are mainly from the physical humour pieces, such as the cast all popping their heads out of each side of the stage all precisely at the same time. Some of the jokes are alright but others are not terribly funny or just played over and over and just stop being funny. Some descend into panto sketch moments including a set audience response piece which feels more than a little odd. The jokes seem to be stuck in TV sitcom of the 1980s/1990s territory, which is a shame.
The main enjoyment comes from not knowing where the script is headed: who will be killed and who is the murderer? Where the plot goes is surprising and impossible to anticipate, which is very welcome; and the physical humour moments add to the enjoyment. If you enjoyed the first Cluedo, and enjoy a spoof murder mystery on stage with a couple of physically funny set pieces, then this will be for you.
Theatre Royal, Brighton, Tuesday 19th March 2024
Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter runs until Sat 23th March 2024
Photos by Dave Hogan and Alistair Muir
