Daniel Casey, Laura Kirman, Tom, Babbage, Etisayi Phillips, Jean-Luke Worrell and Judith Amsenga Cluedo photo by Craig Sugden

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Cluedo at Wolverhampton Grand

This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Cluedo at the invite of Wolverhampton Grand.

By Julie Wallis

Review: Cluedo at Wolverhampton Grand

⭐⭐⭐⭐Fun and Silly!

Directed by Mark Bell, written by Sandy Rustin, original screenplay by Jonathan Lynn

Wolverhampton Grand is host to a play, based on a movie which was based on a board game!

Cluedo, which stars Michelle Collins as Miss Scarlett, Daniel Casey as Professor Plum, Judith Amsenga as Mrs Peacock ,Etisyai Philip as Mrs White and Wesley Griffith as Colonel Mustard, brings everyone’s favourite murder mystery game to life.

This is a classic whodunnit as one by one six people are killed throughout the course of the evening; but who is the murderer and is anyone safe? Set in a large Manor House in 1949 this production has exactly the right feel that a good whodunnit should have.

Michelle Collins, Etisyai Phillips, Tom Babbage, Judith Amsenga and Daniel Casey Cluedo phoo by Craig Sugden

This is also a very classic farce but with seven doors for the price of three. I found it very clever the way the old Manor House is represented on stage. For anyone who knows the game knows there is a library, a billiard room, a kitchen a lounge, a conservatory and a study and these were all very cleverly accessed from the main entrance hall.

Tom Babbage as Reverend Green demonstrates some wonderful physical comedy, and a lot of the jokes are quite childish (but in a good way) and ensure this is entirely suitable for the whole family. There were plenty of youngsters as well as most adults last night who were splitting their sides with laughter. Jean-Luke Worrell as Wadsworth the butler was very funny and very elegant. He was also splendid in his role. For anyone that remembers Tim Curry in the same role in the film, Jean-Luke does the part justice and proves himself to be a very talented actor.

Tom Babbage, Etisyai Phillips, Wesley Griffiths, Laura Kirman, Jean-Luke Worrell, Michelle Collins, Judith Amsenga and Daniel Casey Cluedo photo Craig Sugden

Some of the comedy comes from ‘malfunctions’ that left me unsure as to their validity. Very much in the vein of The Play That Goes Wrong. The second half was substantially better. The first half had a lot of setting the scenes to do, whereas the second half was much funnier and definitely slicker with some fun surprises included. 

I must also mention the group a few people away from me in the auditorium. They had come dressed as Mrs Peacock, Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum! They really had embraced the spirit of this show. It’s fun, it’s silly and it’s a solid four-star comedy. If you’re a fan of the classic farce this show is not to be missed.

Cluedo is at Wolverhampton Grand until Saturday 16th July 2022. The UK tour currently continues until 23rd July 2022 See the website here: cluedostageplay.com. Discover what is coming up at Wolverhampton Grand here: grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on.

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