CLUEDO 2 is a very different murder mystery production unlike I’ve seen before. I certainly wasn’t expecting the Agatha Christie style with all the action happening in the one setting, as it is based on the very familiar board game, with plenty of rooms, suspects and weapons.
I must admit I missed the first Cluedo stage adaptation, with this new version written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, I wasn’t sure how it would work. Set in 1968 in a country manor house, just outside Lonon, during a dark and stormy night. The set depicts the Cluedo board as we are transported to the various rooms of the manor house as the cast appear suddenly, moving furniture slickly with an unconventional way. The plot begins with the rockstar Mr Black as he invites a range of people to the mansion to hear his new album. This is certainly an evening of two acts. The first act is slow as the characters are formed and introduced with relevant back stories, a mysterious dark figure appears lurking in the shadows. The acting and comedy is very much over the top with some long running gags which often feel never ending.
The second act felt completely different, it was still over the top in terms of acting and the comedy, but I think I’d got used to the style. As the pace increased it drew me deeper into the characters and the developing plot. I began to appreciate the slickness of the movement around the sets and the characters, which added to the comedy. As expected, the ending was unusual with plenty of twists and turns.
For any lovers of a murder mystery, this is well worth attending for the quality and slickness of the entire cast.
Runs until Saturday 12th October at Darlington Hippodrome.
