Cluedo

If you want a break from a world where wars and fuel shortages dominate take yourself to see Cluedo at Her Majesty’s Theatre. This Whodunnit play in which  a group of eccentric people, egged on by the butler, search a manor house for a murderer. As their own numbers gradually dwindle, due to said murderer or is it murderers strike, it is a laugh a minute. With apologies to Agatha Christie, references to films, politics and morals, the dialogue ranges from bizarre to verbal slapstick, saved  from being totally over the top by the skill and timing of the cast. 

While a spooky atmosphere is established, with lightening and thunder, humour is established with the antics of the maid Yvette (Lib Campbell) saucily opening the curtains. Brilliantly played by Grant Piro, the butler Wadsworth, admits the guests, one by one, to what they believe is a dinner party. And a wonderful array of guests they are, from Mrs Peacock (Genevieve Lemon) looking rather like Dame Edna, Mrs White (Rachael Beck) uptight and superior, Professor Plum (David James) failed psychoanalyst, the uptight army man Colonel Mustard (Adam Murphy) nervous and gay Reverend Green (Laurence Boxhall) and the femme fatale Miss Scarlett (Olivia Deeble). All are being blackmailed by a Mr Boddy (Joshua Monaghan) suave and confident, offering them a solution, which involves murder.

There are other players, such as the cook (Octavia Barron-Martin) who take on a number of roles, with expertise, and who are essential to the story.

Throughout the evening there is mayhem, dancing, in-jokes a great deal of rushing in and out of doors, a final change of character, and a surprise ending, but I have no wish to give away the plot. Costumes are amazing and the Set, designed by James Browne creates the world of Boddy Manor in 1949.

In the hands of lesser actors and direction (Luke Joslin) this play may have become nothing but a confused jumble. But with this cast it works wonderfully, is hilarious, and sends the audience out into the night laughing. You may be confused as to who was killed by whom, but it doesn’t matter. You will have had a fun evening, a good laugh, and life may not seem so worrying after all.

Her Majesty’s Theatre   21 March-4 April

Image  Jeff Busby