Review: Ghost The Musical (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Ghost (UK Tour)

Milton Keynes Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 18th September 2013

Adapted from the 1990 Oscar winning film, Ghost The Musical is a show which will make you cry with both sadness and joy. Following its world premiere at the Manchester Opera House in March 2011, Ghost has gone on to enjoy runs in both the West End and on Broadway. The musical has now been touring the UK for several months and earlier this week also began a tour of the US.

This was my second time seeing the UK touring production, and I still do not have a clue how it is physically possible for such a high tech show to tour without standards slipping. The touring show is very similar to the original West End production, there are just a few minor changes. Without a doubt, it is the best UK Tour I have ever seen, who needs the West End when the West End can be brought to you?!

I'm sure the majority of audience members already know the famous story which follows Sam and Molly, a couple who are deeply in love until Sam is murdered and finds himself trapped between worlds with the task of saving Molly's life. 

For some reason, in the theatre-world there seems to be some sort of snobbery towards Ghost which completely baffles me. Many say that the show just relies on expensive special effects and so on. Indeed, the show is full of illusions and the set is strikingly brilliant, giving it an almost futuristic feel - but I think it's important to support new shows which move theatre forward. Ghost is so exciting because it features certain effects which nobody else has ever dared to do on stage before. The spectacle is unforgettable.

However, in no way does Ghost just rely on its spectacle, at the heart of the show is a story of love, grief and acceptance. I think Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard have written one of the most underrated scores of all time. The show contains some beautiful, stripped back moments such as the scene which sees Molly sitting on stage, alone in a spotlight, singing 'With You'. It is utterly moving. You can't help but connect with the characters and become engrossed in the story which leads to its heart wrenching conclusion.

Wendy Mae Brown steals the show as Oda Mae Brown, in fact they may as well rename it 'Oda Mae Brown The Musical'. Sam uses Oda Mae Brown, who discovers she can talk to the dead, to communicate with Molly. It is incredible to see how much Wendy's performance has developed over the past four months, she has made the part her own in every way possible. Her ad-libs are outrageously funny and work well for British audiences, although if you haven't seen the show before you wouldn't notice. Wendy's vocals are fierce, she brightens up the stage instantly with her presence and rightly received the loudest cheers during the bows.

Stewart Clarke gives an impressive performance as Sam Wheat. At first I felt he was holding back but during the Act One finale 'I Had A Life' he blew the roof off the Milton Keynes Theatre with his huge vocal talents. He sang the score the way it was written to be sung and clearly meant business. His performance also still feels fresh, he lives every emotion and accurately portrays Sam's huge emotional journey. Stewart's future promises to be very exciting, I couldn't help but think that he would make a fantastic Raoul in Phantom of the Opera. A strong performance also comes from David Roberts as Carl Bruner.

Unfortunately I think I may have caught Rebecca Trehearn (Molly Jensen) on an 'off night'. During the first act she didn't seem to connect with the piece and was a little pitchy, particularly in her higher register during 'With You' and 'Suspend My Disbelief'. This surprised me as I've previously seen her play the role on two occasions, a few months ago when the tour had just begun and during her time as understudy in the West End production, and both times her vocals were flawless. In my last review I wrote: "Rebecca used her exceptional vocal control to portray each and every emotion Molly experiences. The softer side of her voice is so gentle and pure and when she sings with force you can feel Molly's pain and agony. Rebecca also performs the text beautifully." 'With You' is usually the most special moment of the show but I felt slightly let down. Thankfully in the second act Rebecca came back fighting and showcased her powerhouse vocals during 'Rain/Hold On'. She played the final few scenes perfectly, leaving many audience members sobbing.

Ghost is performed with style, the ensemble members are used very cleverly throughout the show and their execution of Ashley Wallen's choreography remains slick and precise. One thing I love about Ghost is that it isn't perfect, which I think is part of its charm. The musical certainly contains weaker moments which only make the strongest parts stronger. 

As the show drew to a close, and the cast took their bows, I actually felt a little sad as this was probably the final time that I'll see the show - I doubt it will tour again and a revival is very unlikely. While nobody will ever be able to bring to Ghost what original cast members Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy did, it is fantastic to see Ghost still going strong, playing to packed theatres of excited theatre goers. I've made no secret of the fact that Ghost holds a very special place in my heart and I sincerely hope that this UK tour continues to wow audiences all over the UK.

Reviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)

andrew@westendframe.com

Ghost runs at the Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 28th September 2013.
Please visit www.ghostthemusical.com for further information, tour dates and tickets.

Click here to read our interview with Stewart Clarke (Sam Wheat).
Click here to read our interview with Wendy Mae Brown (Oda Mae Brown).

Photo Credit: Sean Ebsworth Barnes

Follow @West_End_Frame