Cluedo 2 – Floral Pavilion

A staple in many a games cupboard, Cluedo is the ultimate in murder mystery fun – bringing it to life on stage means you’ve got a lot to live up to. As the audience took their seats on a cold Tuesday night in New Brighton, it was anyone’s guess as to where the story would end up…

Brilliantly laid out with the classic Cluedo board as a constant backdrop, the cast were introduced one by one as the scene was set: an old manor house, newly purchased by failing rock star Rick Black. With his wife, father/manager, right hand man, cook, a recently hired interior designer and ex bandmate making up the rest of the ‘colour’ characters, the tale began to unfold.

The story, of course, follows a murder that takes place at the manor – cut off by a storm and not wanting to involve the police for certain financial reasons, the characters try to work out who did it and why. With many bumps in the road, more murders (if you can believe it), a butler who’s not really a butler but might be a butler, plenty of secrets, bribery and a visit from the police who don’t seem to realise anything is truly wrong, the whole thing is a lot of fun.

Keeping you guessing right the way through, the script takes inspiration from the game with plenty of nods to ‘it was Miss Peacock in the library with the rope’ and so on. The banter was top notch, the timely jokes about current affairs totally natural, and the performance from the cast splendid. Coronation Street’s Ellie Leach makes her stage debut in this witty play, and she played Miss Scarlett with the ease of a theatre veteran. Other cast highlights included Jack Bennett as Wadsworth, the would-be butler, and Jason Durr as the obnoxious Colonel Mustard. But truly, the way all of the actors bounced off each other and fit so naturally into their characters is something to be marvelled at.

It wasn’t just the acting and the jokes (or the twist at the end!) that brought the game of Cluedo so spectacularly to life on stage – the set changes were expertly choreographed as part of the play itself, something that is so easily overlooked and yet here, worked so well. The music worked perfectly, and overall, the show is outstanding.

Everybody loves a whodunnit, and Cluedo 2 did not disappoint – the perfect blend of comedy, mystery, and sheer talent. Even better if you guess who did it…

Reviewer: Katy Gilroy

Reviewed: 12th November 2024

North West End UK Rating: