Review: Ghost The Musical - Piccadilly Theatre London

GHOST THE MUSICAL

PICCADILLY THEATRE

Tuesday 28th February 2012: The first thing that strikes me during the opening of Ghost The Musical is how very cinematic it is. Projections onto a front gauze, revealing the apartment Sam and Molly are moving into, which is constructed from moving LED video walls.

Rob Howell’s set looks good, all three video walls move, along with Hugh Vanstone’s automated lighting rig which flies in throughout. Add to this travelators, street signs that pop up from the floor, cat ladders flying in and it makes for a stunning visual feast.

Sam Wheat (Mark Evans) and Molly Jensen (Siobhan Dillon)
Photo by Matt Crockett

This production, directed by Matthew Warchus, has more or less the same storyline as its movie counterpart, and if you haven’t seen Ghost the movie, where have you been? I’ll be completely honest here, I prefer this stage version over the movie any day. In movies, you can use camera trickery to create the illusions of ghosts and objects flying, but in the reality of the stage, it’s a whole different ball game.

This is where the illusions of Paul Kieve play a very important and incredibly effective part. The way Sam’s hands move through objects, how he goes through a closed door and various other technical wizadry is on show in front of you, and it is breath taking how they make the characters just appear in front of you. A huge well done to the production team on this one.

Musically, Dave Stewart has written some good songs, some which have an industrial feel to them in keeping with the locations of downtown Brooklyn and the city district, and of course the legendary Unchained Melody is present, along with the potters wheel.

Siobhan Dillon sings beautifully as Molly, showing real emotion in her vocals along with her acting, playing opposite Mark Evans, who is also outstanding in this production as Sam. Sharon D. Clarke just blows you away as Oda Mae Brown – the infamous character played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film – as the psychic entrusted by Sam to help him. Add to this a very strong ensemble, notably Ashley Knight as the hospital ghost, and you have one cracking cast.

Sharon D. Clarke (Oda Mae Brown)
Photo by Sean Ebsworth Barnes

Ghost The Musical is hugely successful and I can see why. The set, the visuals, lighting, music and ensemble all combine to make this a fantastic show to watch. If I did star ratings, then this would get five stars, you have got to go and see it.

Ghost The Musical

Currently booking until 20 April 2013
Piccadilly Theatre, Denman Street, London W1D 7DY
Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm,
Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Box Office 0844 871 7618
Ticket prices £25 - £67.50
www.ghostthemusical.com