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Ghost The Musical
World Premiere, Manchester Opera House
Monday 28th March, 2011
Reviewed by Quentin Reynolds
When
director Matthew Warchus took the stage before the opening of GHOST, The
Musical, he basically apologised in advance should there be any hiccups
with the performance. Apparently there had been technical hitches right
up to dress rehearsal. He needn't have worried. If there were any, none
of us noticed and really I don't think we would have minded.
GHOST is part comedy, musical, and mystery thriller with a supernatural
theme. But above all it is a love story.
During the week I rewatched the original film starring Patrick Swayze,
Demi Moore and Whoppi Goldberg.
The stage version follows the movie very closely except for the pottery
scene which happens while the character Sam is still alive in the film,
but after his death in the stage version. It's the only scene that
didn't work in the stage show.
As we're magicians you'll be wondering about the special effects, all
devised by Paul Kieve. In a word, superb. Many of them received audible
gasps from the audience, especially when Sam, played by Richard
Fleeshman, walks through the door. Other major highspots are when the
two evildoers are sucked off to hell. Far more spectacular and sinister
than in the movie. And serves them right! Another scene worth mentioning
is the passengers on the subway train suddenly floating up and down. All
the special effects fitted the plot perfectly and show why Paul is at
the top of his game.
The story moves at a good pace with Sharon D Clarke as Oda Mae Brown,
the spiritualist, playing the role for which Whoppi Goldberg won an
Oscar and playing it with gusto and passion. She almost stole the show.
Regardless of how good the music, the singing, the special effects, the
scenery changes (which also were top notch using a semi-transparent
screen with thousands of LED lights allowing for endless background
changes), this is above all a love story.
So does the love story work? The chemistry between Sam and Molly
(Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy) worked better than with any live
show I've seen. There were many times during the evening when my eyes
welled with tears and from the sobs around me, so too with the rest of
the audience.
The audience responded with a spontaneous standing ovation. Though the
cast need to take better bows. The audience definitely wanted them to
take more than just one curtain call.
The show runs for another six weeks in Manchester before moving to the
Piccadilly Theatre in the West End. I highly recommend this show. It is
better than the movie.
© Quentin Reynolds, April 2011