If there had been a power cut at the Grand Theatre in Leeds, last night, Ghost The Musical would have been as compelling as a child running across Woodhouse Moor with a bed sheet over his head!

For, without the gimmickry, the neon, electronic scenery, effects and tricks of the eye this, for me, is a musical destined for the archives, and merely there to fill the pockets of those entrepreneurs wise enough to capitalise upon the original movie.

If the same acid test were applied to Hamlet (I'm talking about the power cut) might the play have continued to its ultimate conclusion? I suspect so because it is sustained by a compelling storyline, amazing characters and, oh yes, a ghost!

And that's where the similarity ends. Ghost The Musical is a real women's weepie and, last night, the only thing unnerving theatre management was whether Drax would run out of coal at a critical moment, or that 1500 hankies would not be enough to mop up the cascading tears flooding the stalls.

"Ooh it wa' gud," sums up the feelings of one lady perfectly, but did it deserve the standing ovation given to the cast by 20 or so in the stalls. No!

Ghost unashamedly plays to the emotions and is hugely popular because the audience - mostly female - is, I'm sure, half expecting Patrick Swayze to pop out of the neon and grab Demi in his arms. Sorry to disappoint.

However, it delivers on the promise and no one will have gone home feeling short changed......hunks, love, romance, a baddie and a funny lady (Wendy Mae Brown as medium and spiritualist Oda Mae Brown was great).

In between the fun and predictability, director Matthew Warchus' production, was bolstered by an impressive array of light bulbs which montaged to produce lots of stunning effects; certainly a musical for the 'now' generation. Nothing was there long enough for anyone to get bored.....lots of instant gratifications.

In a few years' time there will be a documentary charting, yet again, the rise and fall of the musical on Broadway and the West End. It will probably highlight 2013 as one of the years when theatre spawned lots of 'film' or 'jukebox' movies. But how many will be remembered?

Ghost The Musical was an assault on the senses - particularly the ears - and the acting was a little too overblown in parts. But how should productions like this be judged? By whether they entertain or whether they are remembered?

If it's the latter then Ghost the Musical will, in my opinion, only survive as long as the memory of the film, however, if entertainment value is the number one criteria, then hundreds of women across Yorkshire are probably making ready to stone me to death. They loved it even if I didn't!

Runs until Saturday 29th June