When your goosebumps get goosebumps you know you are experiencing something extraordinary.
I was affected by the bloomin’ eruptions at least twice while watching Ghost the Musical at the Hull New Theatre, on Tuesday evening.
I’ve been spouting off to whoever would listen that no theatre production would come close to the 1990 movie, Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the lead roles.
Well, dear reader, I was totally and utterly wrong. This production of Ghost the Musical is definitely on a par with the hit movie.
The theatre was packed on the night and, as the words “Oh my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch” appeared on a huge star-lit screen, I bet every audience member started mentally singing those lyrics made famous in the song Unchained Melody, sung by The Righteous Brothers in the 1990 movie. I know I did.
The story centres around two love-birds, potter, Molly Jenson (Rebekah Lowings) and banker, Sam Wheat (Josh St. Clair), who move into an apartment together in Brooklyn, New York. It’s not the affluent Manhattan, but they both love it, believing it is an up and coming area.
I have a bone to pick with these two leads, as they are the cause of my aforementioned goosebumps. Their wonderful singing voices, highly emotional at times, coupled with a passion to make their roles believable – well, words almost fail me. They were theatrical perfection.
The pair’s friend, fellow banker Carl Bruner (James Mateo-Salt) helps them on moving day. With pictures hung, furniture installed, all looks rosy.
However, while walking back to their apartment one night, Sam is killed.
Mentioning Sam’s demise is no spoiler – the story is so well-known, and with Ghost in the title we know it has to be a central figure who pops their clogs.
This all happens early on, and it’s the events that follow on from Sam’s death, where the real drama occurs.
The scenes in which Sam realises he is dead are heartbreaking, for us as well as him. But heartache soon turns to laughter with the arrival of Oda Mae Brown (Jacqui Dubois) a woman conning the susceptible into believing she is a psychic.
Dubois, reprising Whoopi Goldberg’s movie role, is just as entertaining as Goldberg; I loved her.
Her colourful costumes were the only “garish” ensembles on the night; all others being work suits, casual wear et al.
To Oda Mae’s great surprise, she realises she can actually communicate with the dead, after Sam gatecrashes one of her readings. And, after suffering relentless duress from him, she agrees to warn the grieving Molly that she is in grave danger from someone she trusts.
Along the way, we have Sam being taught, by a very angry subway ghost (Garry Lee) how to use his anger to move objects. In amazing scenes we see the body-bending effect this scary ghost’s actions have on rail passengers and Sam himself.
And he eventually gets to use his new-found powers to avenge those responsible for his murder, and also to once again hold his sweetheart in his arms.
The stage setting for Ghost the Musical is unbelievably clever with moving objects (a newspaper, lamp, photo frame and gun to name just three), dead bodies magically appearing, amazing lighting, smoke and thunderous sounds, against a backdrop of New York. Molly and Sam’s loft apartment appeared seamlessly and just as seamlessly changed to a bank, a subway (the train was nothing shorty of genius) and so on.
The sound engineers got it just right on the night, with every word spoken and sung, at perfect pitch. Talking of sound, accompanied by glorious live music, there were songs aplenty – my favourites (apart from Unchained Melody) being Three Little Words sung by Sam and Molly, and the tear-jerking With You, sung by Molly.
Oscar winner Bruce Joel Rubin adapted his 1990 movie screenplay for this musical, so it is definitely in good hands. And with further music and lyrics by Dave Stewart, of Eurythmics fame, and Glen Ballard, a hit is a given.
Even though everyone involved in this production are amazing, my Oscars go to Lowings and St. Clair who are simply mesmerising as the two young lovers, tragically torn apart only to be reunited in the most moving of scenes. Glorious theatre.
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 29th April 2025
North West End UK Rating: