Review Round-Up: GHOST THE MUSICAL in the UK!

Last night, April 12, opened its premiere engagement at the Opera House, Manchester running from 28 March - 14 May 2011 for a strictly limited 7 week run before it begins its West End run at the Piccadilly Theatre on 22 June 2011, with booking open for performances until 28 January 2012. The reviews are in and BroadwayWorld brings you the round-up below.

Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy lead the cast of Ghost The Musical playing Sam and Molly in Matthew Warchus' stage musical version of the Academy Award® winning film. Accompanied by Sharon D Clarke as Oda Mae Brown and Andrew Langtree as Carl, Ghost The Musical has new music and lyrics by Grammy® award winning Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard as well as featuring the iconic song Unchained Melody. Oscar® winning Bruce Joel Rubin has adapted his original screen play for the stage. Set and costume designs are by Rob Howell, choreography is by Ashley Wallen with musical supervision and arrangements by Christopher Nightingale, illusions by Paul Kieve, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and projection design by Jon Driscoll. Matthew Wachus directs.

A timeless story about the power of love, Sam is trapped as a ghost between this world and the next trying to communicate with his girlfriend Molly through a phoney psychic in the hope of saving her from his murderer. Ghost, based on the Oscar® winning Paramount Pictures film, will feature new music and lyrics as well as the classic Unchained Melody.

For more information, visit www.ghostthemusical.com.

Alan Hulme, CityLife, After months of intense advance publicity Ghost The Musical officially materialised last night and, amazingly, it lives up to the hype...It's now a dramatic love story thriller musical with absolutely killer state-of-the-art staging that manages to recreate virtually all the scenes from the film to produce a show with a gripping, edge-of-the-seat, storyline - you really do want to know what happens next...Meanwhile, Ghost is no apparition - it's the full five-star package and then some.

Glenn Meads, Whatsonstage.com, (****) What Ghost has in spades is heart and Levy, Fleeshman and Clarke breathe life into the material and make it appear fresh. A few cuts and playing to cast member's strengths should see the West End believing as much as Manchester, as this is a slick show which deserves to do well. The team behind it have created something which offers audiences far more than a lazy retread.

Deanna Delamotta, Manchester Evening News, ...the ultimate scene-stealers are the amazing special effects - like Sam disappearing through a door. Illusion expert Paul Kieve, who worked on Harry Potter 3, helped create the jaw-dropping visuals which make this a true 21st century musical where technical wizardry vies with the cast and the score for top billing. Go and see it while you can.

Rick Bowen, This Is Lancashire, IN Ghost - The Musical they manage to re-create one of the most memorable pieces of movie magic on stage...Foolishly, I didn't think Richard Fleeshman was old enough to play the tragic Sam Wheat but my doubts were well and truly banished after 10 minutes into the show. He has a stunning vocal range and there's a natural chemistry between him and the lovely Caissie Levy, who plays Wheat's partner, Molly...I bet those of you who see it will want to go again, because this show is one step up from brilliant.

 

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.