New Wimbledon Theatre, London – until Saturday 8 February 2025
Reviewed by Ava Clarkson
5*****
“Oh, my love, my darling… I’ve hungered for your touch…”
We all know the song and the iconic scene around the potter’s wheel… I have always avoided reviewing iconic films as I don’t want to be let down – but boy was I wrong! Ghost was the highest grossing film of 1990 and became one of cinema’s biggest all-time hits with a memorable cast including Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and the late Patrick Swayze. This is hard to bring to stage, but Ghost the Musical delivered.
Tonight’s review venue is the New Wimbledon Theatre, an iconic landmark in Wimbledon Town Centre since 1910. The theatre has approximately 1,670 seats across three levels. Even after many refurbishments, the theatre still retains its beautiful Baroque and Adamesque internal features. The theatre is welcoming and comfortable with a feel of yesteryear.
Ghost The Musical is based on the film of the same name and is produced by Bill Kenwright. Bill Kenwright said “Ghost is a story full of hope and is one of those films which never leaves you. The book by Bruce Joel Rubin and score by Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballad come together wonderfully in one of my favourite new musicals in years.”
The story is set in New York and sees Banker Sam Wheat (Josh St. Clair) and his Artist Girlfriend Molly Jensen (Rebekah Lowings) living a dream life. Moving into a beautiful apartment with the help of their best friend Carl Bruner (James Mateo-Salt) – life is good. However, their perfect life is shattered when the couple are mugged on the way home. A gunshot rings out and although Sam appears to chase the mugger away, he returns to see Molly cradling him on the ground and realises he is dead. A beam of light appears, but as Sam walks towards it, he is snapped back from it and the light disappears.
In his new form as a ghost, Sam follows Molly but is unable to interact with the physical world. Sam finds out that the mugging was deliberate, and Molly is in grave danger. He must find a way to communicate with her. Sam asks for help from a violent ghost (Garry Lee) on the subway train and learns how to touch physical objects. He learns that he was mugged by Willie Lopez (Jules Brown) under the instructions of his best friend Carl and who hired Willie to rob Sam of his book of bank passwords.
Still lost and unable to communicate his findings to his beloved Molly and keep her safe, Sam meets Oda Mae Brown (Jacqui Dubois) a fraudster Psychic who claims she can talk to the dead. She cannot – until Sam comes into her life and she is just as shocked as he is that they can hear each other. With Oda Mae’s help Sam convinces Molly that the afterlife is real as Oda Mae says “ditto”, his response whenever Molly said she loved him. The three of them set about solving the crime and in doing so Sam involves Oda Mae in reclaiming the stolen money from Carl and making her reluctantly donate it all to charity.
With the crime solved, Sam is with Molly and Oda Mae in their Manhattan apartment when the beam of light returns, allowing them both to see and hear him. Sam shares a kiss with Molly, telling her he loves her. She responds, “ditto”, before Sam walks into the light.
With the live orchestra nestled beneath the stage, we have been truly treated to an outstanding show tonight. The musical score is modern in its deliverance with Electric Guitar solos and gentle interludes during emotional scenes. Musical Director Jordan Alexander brings a host of new songs to life as well as much loved songs such as Unchained Melody. Dave Stewart and Glenn Ballard have co-written and produced original songs across the musical. The cast have breathtaking voices and were all flawless tonight in their delivery. A special mention should go to Molly (Rebekah Lowings) for her solo performance of “With You” which was sensational and got the biggest applause of the night.
The stage set designed by Mark Bailey was comparable with a big budget west end production. The moving parts and backdrops were impressive, especially the New York subway carriage which adorned the set twice. Ghostly illusions were cleverly bought throughout the show by Richard Pinner including levitating newspapers and guns and cast members appearing on stage before our very eyes.
How do you follow Whoopie Goldberg… you bring Jacquie Dubois out of a wardrobe and let her take the role for herself. The portrayal of Oda Mae Brown is funny and captivating. You can feel the warmth towards her ghostly friend Sam as he leaves her and Molly.
The villains of the show were believable. Garry Lee was a truly petrifying subway ghost with an intensity that made us scared and feel sorry for him at the same time. Jules Brown who played the mugger Willie Lopez also made us dislike him immensely and revel when he is dragged down kicking and screaming to hell.
The ensemble dancers moved seamlessly around the stage and were very much part of the show. Scenes in New York bought “suited and booted” dancers, dancing with briefcases under the backdrop on The Twin Towers.
My reservation as to how the show would manage to convey the iconic potters wheel scene was quickly allayed. By slightly changing the much loved and copied scene and adding a comic but endearing element to it, the production managed to “own” the scene and do it justice in their own way.
Overall, I would say Ghost the Musical is a 5-star triumph. I would highly recommend watching this show as it tours the country. If you’re a fan of the film, you will not be disappointed by this adaptation.