Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Amanda Dando

Aylesbury Waterside Theatre is in central Aylesbury, very accessible, with plenty of local parking and options for a pre-show drink. I was surprised at the real mix of ages of the audience as we took to our seats, from the young right through to the old. I have not seen Cluedo on stage before, so had no idea at all as to what to expect to happen!

What do I know, well Cluedo is a popular who done it board game, that many of us grew up playing as a family or with friends, we still have a game as a family and still play from time to time. The characters in the show, are in the main those we are familiar with, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlett, Reverend Green, Professor Plum, Miss Peacock and Mrs White, along with a few others. We all remember the premise, who did it, where did they do and with what weapon.

The staging is clever, and you get a real feel you are in the stately home or Manor House, this edition, if you like, is based around the rock star Rick Black, played by Liam Horrigan, who has invited his super model wife Mrs Peacock, his manager Colonel Mustard, his roadie Professor Plum and his new interior designer Miss Scarlett to his house, along with his housekeeper Mrs White to hear his new album. The mystery unravels from there. They are also joined by his songwriter, Reverend Green, and the butler Wadsworth.

It’s interesting as I said to my husband that it had a real scooby doo vibe for me, the way the group moved as one through some scenes, the slap stick comedy and the laugh out loud unrealistic situations that unravelled before your eyes, I think this is what was intended by the director.

During the interval myself and my husband had great fun guessing who did what in the kitchen, study, library, billiard room, the hall, the lounge, the ballroom, the dining room or the conservatory using either the spanner, rope, gun, lead piping, knife or candlestick. The rooms were believable on stage and the staging changes were very slick.

It’s an outstanding cast, loved seeing Ellie Leach playing Miss Scarlett on stage, and Jason Durr was a stupendous Colonel Mustard. To be fair the whole cast looked like they thoroughly enjoyed every moment, as they built layer after layer of subterfuge around each murder interlaced with some deadpan comedy. How the younger members of the cast followed it all I’ll never know, as they thoroughly lost me, and right to the last reveal, I had no idea how the plot would end. As a play, it was very entertaining and you couldn’t take your eyes off the stage for fear of missing a clue on this very cleverly put together who done it. Well done to everyone who performed it was a couple of hours well spent and a thoroughly enjoyable night of entertainment.

Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £15.00 subject to a transaction fee of £3.80
Cluedo 2 is at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Aylesbury from Tuesday 22 October – Saturday 26 October 2024, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com or call the Box Office on 0844 871 7607
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Exchange Street Aylesbury HP20 1UG