The Theatre Royal has long played host to some excellent high-budget murder mystery plays since its reopening and Cluedo is the latest in that long line, arriving in Sydney as part of a national tour. Adapted from the 1985 film, the play features six guests who have all been summoned to Boddy Manor for a dinner party, with none of them knowing why they have actually been invited. 

Quickly, it becomes clear that they have all been blackmailed and brought to the house under the guise of such blackmail, with the task of killing the charming butler Wadsworth, who is the only other person who knows the secrets that they hold, the primary goal. In the modern day, the secrets do not seem so bad on the whole, but for a few, the crimes are genuinely severe, with double murder being the most frightening. Quickly, the play turns into a farcical murder mystery, with the deaths starting to rack up as the guests try to work out which of them is the killer in a house full of potentially dangerous people.

The play featured an excellent cast, led by Lawrence Boxhall as Reverend Green, Genevieve Lemon as Miss Peacock, Adam Murphy as Colonel Mustard and Grant Piro as Wadsworth. The acting of Grant Piro was definitely a highlight of this show, with his performance really carrying the production with a gravitas, a force and an excitement which brought energy to the stage, as well as a wonderful dance break. Murphy was also strong as Colonel Mustard, while Lemon and Boxhall were also standouts in their roles.

The play is not meant to be a serious one but it became more and more ridiculous as the production progressed, turning outright crazy with plots and dialogue so full of double entendres that it felt tiresome at times. Even in 90 minutes, the play seemed as though it dragged significantly and that the audience were seeing the same scene over and over again, with not enough substance or interest in the script to really pull through despite the strong acting. Of the many clever whodunit plays that have come to the Theatre Royal in recent years, like And Then There Were None and The Mousetrap, this really felt quite a few steps below in terms of writing quality, with the performers doing their best to manage a script that did not do them much favours, with the ultimate ending really not being that much of a surprise for those watching.

With that said, James Browne’s set was excellent, with a lot of intricate detail to match that of 1940s England, as well as a number of different set changes as the performers walked around the house, with seamless transitions. Despite a painting falling off the wall on opening night, it was well handled by the actors. Costumes were also added to the ambiance, as did Sean Peter’s sound and Jasmine Rizk’s lighting, which kept the sense of mystery alive, even if the script really did not have much to maintain.

Overall, this is a play which does not quite live up to the murder mysteries on the Theatre Royal stage before it but is still a fun night out with some excellent acting and a little mystery angle to keep the audience entertained. It is not trying to be serious, it is not trying to break the mould on anything but it is fun and it is amusing, and even if the payoff is not as good as it could be, it is still ultimately enjoyable, even if it is really quite strange. This play will sell well, as plays of a similar kind always do but perhaps those who have seen And Then There Were None or The Mousetrap will feel a little shortchanged. 

Rating: ★★★

Cluedo plays at the Theatre Royal until 10 May. For more information, click here. 

All photo credits: Jeff Busby