Set in a shady spot of Walpole Park, West London's very own The Questors Theatre stage their open-air production of Cluedo: The Play this June.
For a limited time, the players tread the boards as iconic suspects: Colonel Mustard, Reverend Green, Professor Plum, and the rest. The colourful costumes are a delicious mixture of textures and fabrics, and our cast are well-suited to their roles.
Robin Ingram as Mustard is perfectly dim-witted and just the right amount of besotted with Miss Scarlet, while Alison Griffin gives a full-bodied performance as Mrs Peacock – she is bold and very blue, of course.
Brodie Bass as Professor Plum does excellent voice work with a superbly droll intonation and his facial expressions are just right to demonstrate the extravagance of his character.
The very simple yet effective staging places you into the boardgame with player tokens marking the boundaries of the audience. The staging is spot on with a rotating centre panel to highlight the change of room, and the props are a masterstroke. Just like with a real boardgame, everything is a token: a simple blackboard with white outlines and a title on the reverse. The spanner, the safe, the briefcase are all drawn on. The radio, played by a talented ensemble, becomes a highlight as they switch between singing, news reading and static. It is a brilliant way to introduce the props.
What I found wonderful about this show is that you do feel as though you're both watching the film and playing a part in solving a murder. It's a big, joyful game to enjoy and that's what makes it a perfect watch in the park. It doesn't need to be serious, but it does need seriously good talent to deliver the show.
Daniel Thompson as Wadsworth delivers an epic performance, including his incredible scene of re-enacting the entire play and all the characters' reactions. He juggles accents and rolls across the stage to bring this circus of a show to life.
A serious play could be made of money, politics, sex and scandal, but this is a jolly and camp romp of a show instead.
The only thing patchy about the show was the sound at times, but that can be expected in an open-air environment. Overall, it's a lovely light watch in the summer sun, ideal for casual theatregoers and fans of the film.
This is a bring your own chairs, cushions and drink production, so don't be surprised to hear a few corks popping in the audience. If you want, you can hire a chair for a fiver. The show is on until 27 June 2026.
Review: James Dix