Ghost the musical
The Hawth Crawley
25th February – 1st March 2025
It is unbelievable that it is a quarter of a century since Ghost graced our movie screens. One of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history is that of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore at the Potters Wheel with the Everley Brothers crooning in the background.
Ten years later, the screenplay was adapted into a stage musical with book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and music by Dave Stewart (from the Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard. Ghost the Musical became a hit on both sides of the pond and is now touring the country in a new tour produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd.
Predominantly a story centring around the power of love, Ghost the Musical also deals sensitively with grief, greed, espionage and the supernatural. Sam and Molly have just moved in together and couldn’t be happier, that is until Sam is murdered. He is then trapped as a ghost desperate to communicate with Molly through Ode May Brown, an unlikely psychic to warn her that her life is also in danger.
Unfortunately as the plot is so well known to audiences, it is unlikely that there are any surprises and the special effects once state of the arts now seem very clunky and obvious. But the cast rise above this and the show has a delicious mix of intimate moments, exciting suspense and comic timing giving the audience a thoroughly wonderful night out.
This is the second tour of Ghost that Rebekah Lowings has taken the helm as Molly and truly she is superb in the role. Her vulnerability and passion is palpable and when she sings ‘With You’ it is truly heartbreaking. Sam is played by Josh St Clair who has a string of West End credits to his name, the chemistry between him and Lowings is great and yes, the Potter’s Wheel scene is still just as sexy.
Comic relief comes in spades from Jacqui Du Bois playing Ode Mae Brown (played in the film by Whoopi Goldberg) despite the role being smaller that it was in the West End, Du Bois certainly raises a smile in what otherwise is a very passionate show. Other stand out performances come from James Mateo-Salt as their ‘friend’ Carl, Jules Brown as Willie Lopez and Garry Lee as the Subway Ghost.
Ghost the Musical proves that we are all still suckers for a good love story and we all like to believe that love is never-ending. Ghost the Musical is a definite winner.
Reviewer: Sammi O’Neill
Photo: Alastair Muir