CLUEDO is of course a board game second only to Monopoly in its parlour game popularity.
Invented by Anthony Ernest Pratt who (as you probably know) was born in south Birmingham, lived in Rednal and is buried in Bromsgrove Cemetery.
The objective is to be the player who solves a whodunit and where in the stately home which is laid out as a blueprint on the playing board. Outside of playing the game, who hasn’t quoted ‘It was so and so in such and such a room” when we are relaying our thoughts amongst chums on many a personal mystery?
The play version, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by Sandy Rustin does not just pay homage to Cluedo the game but it takes those beloved colour-coded playing card characters out of the box and brings them to life. It’s a big ask of director, techies and actors, everything must work in synergy and at a breakneck pace to bring order to the nonsense and magic to the mayhem. In this Crescent company production, I was delighted to find this missive in safe hands.
Picture by Graeme Braidwood Photography. s
Starting with the design by the undisputed master himself Colin Judges, alongside James Booth, the duo give us a setting that would grace any West End stage. It’s a dark, dank, damp, mirky and mysterious old country mansion house, full of rooms where opportunities for dark deeds hide in every nook and cranny. There are locked doors, secret panels, cupboards and priest holes galore. Matt Randell lights the myriads of spaces with levels and moods that are a credit to his craft – equalled and complemented by Lou Styles sound effects and original music.
The costume team of Pat Brown, Vera Dean and Deborah Install add to the perfection with Cluedo frockery correct to the last detail.
Moving onto the actors – there’s not really a cigarette paper between performances, all are bang on the money, gung-ho and go for it outings. That’s individually and in team playing – rarely has the words in-synergy been more apt.
Picture by Graeme Braidwood Photography. s
Nigel Price truly cuts the mustard as the Colonel with his biting delivery and towering bloodhound demeanour, Shana Roberts is the textbook bunny- boiling black widow as Mrs White, Tom Lowde is plum perfect as the dapper Professor Katie Goldhawk is as cuddly as a king cobra and literally worth dying for as femme fatale Miss Scarlett, David Baldwin maintains an appropriate but deadly reserve as the Rev Green and Jaz Davison puts in a real power house performance, preening, purring and ticking all the boxes as Mrs Peacock.
Outside of the vivid six comes Rachel Cooper putting the oo -la-la into the sensual frolics of Yvette the French maid, Chris Grimley is correctly clueless as a copper, James Lickman adds to the chaos as Mr Body and Michelle Worthington is great fun as the mad and menacing cook.
A special shout out to Shaun Hartman as Wadsworth the Butler who brings just the right amount of order to the madness with his presence, faultless timing and delivery.
Mark Shaun Walsh the director, says in his programme notes that Cluedo is a labour of love for him. Well, myself and the whole of the Sunday matinee audience certainly felt that love.
Picture by Graeme Braidwood Photography. s
You joined the dots up again and again Mr Walsh – I say your direction was nothing short of triumphant.
Cluedo gets five well deserved stars from me, I urge you to forget the rain… go and experience the sunshine – it’s the best show in town this week by a long piece of lead piping in anybody’s billiard room!
Cluedo runs at The Crescent Theatre until Saturday, February 14. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
*****
Review by Euan Rose
Euan Rose Reviews
