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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
8:00 AM 12th October 2016
arts

Review: Ghost - The Musical, Blackpool Opera House

 
Sarah Harding and Andy Moss
Sarah Harding and Andy Moss
I have to admit, I have never seen the film version of Ghost and I didn't know the story so I had no preconceptions about the musical. The reviews I had read about the show particularly about one of the main characters in the show, Molly played by Sarah Harding (better known as being in the girl group Girls Aloud) had been mixed.

It was wonderful to enter the Opera House and see the stalls and upstairs full. The show runs for 2 weeks and it was comforting to see that there is still a demand for a high quality musical especially when there are other entertainments in the town vying for your attention.

Sam (played with charm by Andy Moss) is murdered by a mugger one night whilst walking home with his girlfriend Molly (Sarah Harding), he is then trapped between this world and the next. Of course there is betrayal in the storyline as the mugger, Willy Lopez (Leo Sene) has been hired by Sam's friend and colleague at work, Carl (Sam Ferriday). Carl only wanted the mugger to get Sam's wallet which contained secret codes to a bank account that held 10 million dollars, not actually kill him.

The storyline was getting a bit dry but when spiritualist Oda Mae (Jacqui Dubois) enters the stage things begin to freshen up. Dubois took on a central role that Woppi Goldberg played in the film. It was not an easy task to take on an established role but Dubois was a highlight in the musical and it looked like the character had been made for her to play.

Oda Mae was in the past a bit of a con artist, fooling her customers that she could hear voices from the other side but she can actually hear Sam, much to her amazement. It reminded me of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) where only one person can hear the ghost. Some of the best scenes of the night were the ones with Oda Mae and Sam, their comic pairing seemed more natural than the lack of chemistry between Sam and Molly.

The other strong character was the subway ghost played by Gary Lee Netly who was a powerful character; you could imagine Steve Steinman from Vampires Rock playing the role. He looked like a heavy rocker with a heavy attitude.

You could hear the vulnerability in Harding's voice at times throughout the show, her acting was far more dramatic and believable. The Righteous Bothers hit Unchained Melody is central to the musical which Andy Moss took on singing with ease.

A standing ovation followed and rightly so. If you go with an open mind you will be highly entertained. After a slow start it turned out to be an unexpected surprise.

Blackpool Opera House - until Saturday 15 October
www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk
Telephone 0844 856 1111

Leeds Grand Theatre 14th to 19th November
www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
Telephone 0844 848 2700