Cluedo 2 – York Theatre Royal

Director: Mark Bell

Writers: Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks

It is the 75^th birthday of the much-loved board game, Cluedo. Still selling in toy shops across the country, the game has not only spawned other games that have taken their inspiration from its particular brand of murder mystery fun, but also a film, television shows, and a number of stage and musical adaptations.

Hot on the heels of a particularly well-received first stage adaptation simply entitled Cluedo, comes the equally straightforwardly titled Cluedo 2, from the same writers. The action has now been transported to 1968 complete with appropriate costumes and dance moves.

Everyone knows the board game, the weapons, the rooms and of course the characters, all of whom are brought to life in this comedy thriller, along with a couple of extras to spice things up a bit. Rock Star Rick Black (Liam Horrigan) and his shrew-like wife Celestine Peacock (Hannah Boyce) live in a 17 bedroomed manor house in the country. For one reason or another, Mustard, Scarlett, Green, White and Plum are also all present, along with Wadsworth (Jack Bennet) an actor who is definitely not a butler, but who is treated as such throughout the play, with increasingly hilarious results.

Once the characters have been introduced and the scene set, which was a little slow to get going, Rick Black ominously asks everyone to meet him in his studio as he is about to release his latest album of music to the world. On arrival in the studio, everyone realises that shock, horror – Rick has been murdered. In no less than three different ways. Who can his murderer be? And are there to be yet more murders? Spoiler – of course there are.

Mark Bell, director of the riotous The Play That Goes Wrong has attempted to add elements of farce into the show with some great characterisation and interplay that demonstrates a similar brand of humour – there are some very quick jokes, some slow burners, some that became funnier with each repetition. Writers Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks have written a script with some incredibly witty elements, but there are also some that fall somewhat wide of the mark.

Movement Director Anna Healey is responsible for some interesting 60’s style scene changes and movement scenes in which the characters become parts of the house interspersed with some 60’s style, ‘fosse-esque’ choreography. These moments are clever, but a little disjointed. At one point it seems as if the cast may break into song, and at another point they complete their scene change and seem to be waiting for applause, which does not quite fit with the rhythm of the show.

There are some slick stand out scenes that are very pacey, and this is where the cast are able to shine and the writing and direction are both at their most successful. A dead rock star ventriloquist scene (yes, you read that right) is particularly funny, and a scene in the kitchen with cups of tea and a variety of different cakes is perfectly timed, with the action bordering on pantomime. The cast were rewarded with an appreciative audience reaction of guffaws, snorts and giggles.

There are a number of strong cast members in this show, with solid performances by Hannah Boyce as Mrs Peacock and Liam Horrigan (who has more than one character to play). Miss Scarlett is played by Ellie Leach who has acted in Coronation Street (and won Strictly Come Dancing 2023). This is her stage debut, and she is a little one-note, without much real character. Her performance did however improve as the show went on.

The two performances of the night were from Jack Bennett who played the actor-turned butler-but still actor really Wadsworth and Audrey Anderson who was actually the understudy for the role of Mrs White the housekeeper/cook. Bennett was hilarious throughout, commanded the stage and was a joy to watch. Anderson was delightfully odd and delivered her lines with perfect comic timing. Scenes with these two in were lifted by their presence as they absolutely understood the comedy-thriller brief.

This is a show that gets better as it goes on – the humour is greater in the second half, it feels pacier and it even feels as though the actors take their time to get going, which is fine if the pay off is worth it at the end. On this occasion it was generally worth the wait, and the ending, which of course will not be given away here, is as funny and ridiculous as it should be.

Runs until 16th March 2024.