Rob Bridges returns to the 1990s with the stage production of Ghost, complete with songs and music by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart
On a cold November evening we eagerly made our way to Bath to watch the musical stage version of the 1990 classic movie, Ghost. Ghost The Musical has toured on a few occasions but somehow always managed to missed me. Still, friends who had seen it has said how much they really enjoyed it, while the West End star Lucie Jones commented that it is one of her favourite musicals to sing.
As with the film, Ghost The Musical centres on lovers Sam (Josh St Clair) and Molly (Rebekah Lowings), who are attacked as they are returning to their apartment. When Sam dies, he becomes caught between this world and the next, and tries to communicate with Molly to and warn her that her life is in danger.
Of course, mention Ghost and we all think of the Unchained Melody and that potter’s wheel scene, which gets a steamy outing early in part one in this musical. In fact, if you like this song it is appears in different incarnations during the evening.
Part one of the evening builds with the subway ghost bringing the Matrix to the stage, Les Dennis performing a number as the hospital ghost, and the songs With You and Suspend My Disbelief/ I Had a Life entrancing an already captivated audience. Perhaps the fact that songs in the show are by multi-Brit Award winner, Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart and Grammy Award winning Glen Ballard, explain their class and quality.
Part two starts with a bang, literally, as we move along from the scene at the police station to Sam plotting revenge against Carl (James Mateo-Salt), the villain of the piece, with the help of spoof medium Ode Mae Brown, played by the hilarious Jacqui Dubois. Throughout the staging is excellent with seamless scene changes throughout, and stunning effects, particularly in the tube station and at the end – spoiler alert – as Sam walks into the light.
Throughout the performances are strong, with a real chemistry between the leads, while James Mateo- Salt as Carl took on the the part with real relish. My only criticism was that Sam was hard to hear during some of the bigger, louder songs, which was a shame. Still, overall Ghost The Musical makes for great evening out and my wife and I were well entertained and taken back to a story we all treasure, with an ending that brought tears to our eyes.
Ghost The Musical plays at the Theatre Royal Bath until 23 November. For more information and to book tickets, click here.