Theatre Review: Ghost the Musical at The Alexandra Birmingham
AD: This Press Night Review refers to the 2025 Touring Production of Ghost the Musical at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham*
Adapted from the 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, Ghost the Musical delivers romance with a touch of the supernatural to the stage of the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham.
I loved the film as a young teenager. The tragic love story, the spiritual connection, the soaring vocals of the Righteous Brothers. I also thought that learning pottery was the key to a successful romance. Would the stage adaptation provide the touch I’d be hungering for all these years?
“I wasn’t supposed to go! I’m not supposed to be here!”
Ghost the Musical tells the story of Molly (Rebekah Lowings) and Sam (Josh St Clair). Their life together is cut tragically short when Sam dies after a seemingly random mugging. But Sam has unfinished business, and he desperately tries to reconnect with Molly from the other side. He enlists the help of a reluctant Oda Mae Brown (an excellent Jacqui Dubois), whose spiritual scams turn out to mask a genuine gift as a medium. And it turns out that Sam’s death was not an accident and Molly is facing a similar fate if he cannot warn her.
The stage adaptation made its debut in 2011, and the story translates well from the silver screen, thanks to the involvement of Bruce Joel Rubin, the film’s screenwriter. It keeps many of the iconic elements of the film with the help of a bit of technical trickery, a potters wheel and a score which naturally includes Unchained Melody. In fact, the lyrics emblazon the gauze curtain that greets us as we enter the auditorium. Minor changes bring the 35 year old story bang up to date.
Rebekah Lowings and Josh St Clair play Molly and Sam with great sincerity and chemistry. St Clair convincingly gets across his bewilderment and frustration as he comes to terms with his ghostly situation, whilst Lowings portrays the pain of Molly’s loss with a heartbreaking performance.
“Molly, you in danger, girl!”
Stepping into the role made so famous by Whoopi Goldberg, Jacqui Dubois stands out as Oda Mae. Dubois brings much-needed levity to the melancholy. Her big musical number “I’m Outta Here” is a particular crowd-pleaser. James Mateo-Salt plays the duplicitous Carl; his come-uppance is highly satisfying.
The ensemble feels slightly under-used, such is the spotlight on Sam, Molly, Carl and Oda-Mae. At times it feels like they are just there to fill the stage. Flashy dance numbers aren’t required to tell this story, and the choreography seems forced. I feel like it needs tenderness and subtlety; something contemporary and balletic to emphasise the emotional connections.
Lowing’s spine-tingling solo “With You” is a stand-out moment in the first act, and you can barely hear a pin drop in the auditorium. But not all the original songs, written by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard, seem to match the mood. “You Gotta Let Go Now” for example is jarringly jolly considering Sam has just died and Molly is consumed by grief. It’s not a particularly memorable score; the song I leave the theatre humming is still that old classic “Unchained Melody”. The song features in both acts; a playful version in Act One, and then as a haunting duet in the second act.
“The love inside, you take it with you”
Sam and Molly’s Brooklyn flat is cleverly transformed thanks to simple sliding sets. It becomes a bank, a bustling New York street and a subway station. The translucent subway carriage is particularly clever. Subtle but impactful lighting signifies Sam’s afterlife, and some well-executed special effects are used to convey the supernatural. Perfectly-timed body-doubling is used to signify the moments of death.
The show stays true to the much-loved film, and keeps the themes of grief, love and acceptance at it’s core. The lead cast are excellent, but it’s a weak score that trys too hard that ultimately lets them down. This may have been better adapted as a play with a small cast rather than the trend to adapt every successful movie into a musical. The intimate moments were captivating though, and it remains a hauntingly beautiful tale.
Ghost the Musical is at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 5th April 2025. Purchase your tickets here. Best availability is Wed 2 Apr @ 2.30pm & 7.30pm and Thu 3 Apr @ 7.30pm. The UK Tour continues until May 2025; for a full list of dates, visit the official website.
Photo Credits: Alastair Muir
*Why is this post marked AD? I was invited to attend Press Night in exchange for an honest review. You can trust that I will always be honest and truthful on A Brummie Home and Abroad, and being an invited guest will not influence my opinion in any way.
