Back in the 1970s when I was growing up and before computers revolutionised home entertainment, we used to play board games, and Cluedo was one of my favourites.

For those not in the know, the premise of the game, which is set in a mansion, is to work out which character committed a murder, in which room they did it, and with which weapon.

Apparently, there are 324 possible outcomes to Cluedo, which was created by Birmingham-born detective-fiction enthusiast Anthony E Pratt. His wife, Elva, co-designed the game and provided the board’s original artwork.

Taking its inspiration not only from the board game but also the 1985 film, Clue, the stage production of Cluedo 2 - The Next Chapter stars West End and TV star Jason Durr - best known for his leading roles in Heartbeat and Casualty - as Colonel Mustard, a cowboy-boot-wearing power-hungry agent with a terrible Southern drawl.

Former Coronation Street favourite and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ellie Leach is making her stage debut as Miss Annabelle Scarlett but is missing this week, the role instead being played by Hannah Boyce, who usually plays Mrs Peacock.

The action is set at the fictitious Graveny Manor in the Swinging 60s (1968, to be precise). Rock superstar Rick Black (Liam Horrigan) has gathered a group of colourful characters at his new country manor. His motive is to access their support as he attempts to reignite his floundering career.

Needless to say, the get-together takes an entirely unexpected turn as the bodies begin to pile up...
Cluedo 2 - The Next Chapter is imaginatively directed by Mark Bell, who helmed The Play That Goes Wrong. Movement Director Anna Healey also deserves a mention for her splendidly slick and gloriously silly staging. Chaos and mayhem abound as the performers help to change scenes and cleverly present some of the show’s most dramatic moments in slow motion!

The actors are a great troupe of entertainers whose colourful stand-alone characters beautifully complement one another and pull off the show’s many slapstick moments to absolute perfection. Their delivery of double entendres is very much up to the mark as well!

Dawn Buckland is splendid as meddling cook-come-housekeeper Mrs White. A long-term employee, she knows the whereabouts of Graveny Manor’s secret passages, a fact which allows her to pop up (with great comic timing) in the most unexpected of places. Another character to look out for is Wandsworth the Butler (“I’m an actor, not a butler!”), played by Jack Bennett. He’s apparently arrived early, in costume, to play the role of a butler in a gin commercial being filmed at Graveny Manor. A scene in which he uses his ventriloquist skills to make it appear the first murder victim is still alive is very funny.

This play is of course Cluedo TWO, but don’t worry if you failed to catch the production’s predecessor - this is a brand-new story. For those who’ve seen the first play and thoroughly enjoyed it, a similar night of entertainment awaits you with this latest offering. Fast moving, clever, at times hilarious, and always engaging, Cluedo 2 - The Next Chapter is a fun night out at the theatre for anybody who loves the spoof-thriller genre. Collect the clues, unravel the secrets and try to discover whodunnit - with what, and where - before the arrival of the shocking and unexpected ending.

Four stars

Cluedo 2 - The Next Chapter was reviewed by Sue Hull on Tuesday 23 July at The Alexandra, Birmingham, where it shows until this Saturday.