Cluedo

CLUEDO  This production is based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, written by Sandy Rustin with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price.  It is also based on the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture based on the Hasbro board game Cluedo, with additional material by Mark Bell.  The well-known characters: Professor Plum, Miss Scarlett, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green, Mrs White and Colonel Mustard, are summoned, by a mysterious letter, to Boddy Manor.   They are all being blackmailed. Bodies pile up, there’s slapstick, suspense and a lot of laughs padding out a wafer-thin plot!

The set was impressive and representative of a Home Counties mansion. The wallpaper incorporated the colours of the characters and there was a realistic tiger’s head mounted on the wall.  There were heavy looking double doors. The set was decorated with pictures, drinks trolley and various small items. The furniture was very elegant, tiny chaise longue and a chair. The dining table was a masterpiece of construction, folding out to enable the six diners to be seated. Crockery and glasses were fixed to the table to enable swift assembly and disassembly. The billiard table was also worth a mention. The props were excellent: rope, dagger, candlestick, revolver, spanner and a piece of lead piping.

The costumes were excellent with each character immediately identified: Miss Scarlett in a bright red dress with accessories, Reverend Green with a touch of green and Professor Plum in a plum-coloured three-piece suit. Mrs White was the exception as she appeared dressed in black.  There was good attention to detail, the butler’s waistcoat had six different coloured buttons, one for each of the guests. Mrs Peacock’s blue dress was stunning and topped off with sparkly bag, deep blue satin evening gloves (with feathers) and a headdress containing a peacock feather. There was a traditional black and white maid’s outfit for Yvette. I was impressed by the costumes which helped us immense ourselves in post-war Britain.

The lighting was excellent and used to emphasise specific moments, such as when characters appear to recognise one another. This was done in a comedic style with suspenseful music. Special effects were good and included a hound barking, and rain with stormy weather.   

There was much to enjoy in this production. George Buckland did a great job in his first outing as Director.  The result of which was a wonderfully exaggerated piece of theatre.  The cast flourished as they brought out the idiosyncrasies of their characters including H Connolly as the lecherous Colonel Mustard and the nervous and rather obliging Reverend Green.   Although this was a great piece of comedy, there was a genuine feeling of suspense as the action moved along and the bodies piled up. Pete Watt, as Wadsworth, the butler had the mammoth task of orchestrating the action and he did this confidentially and efficiently. No murder mystery is complete without an ever-changing list of suspects, the use of distraction technique and a revolving door and/or secret passage. 

This production of Cluedo had it all (and more if you include the mid-play Conga!) and thanks to the sterling cast and the supporting production crew, this was a great way to spend an evening – full of light hearted fun and laughter. 

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