In 1990, the combined sex appeal of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore made pottery the the single most erotic art form thanks to that scene in Ghost.
25 years later, not only has that scene not been forgotten in the annals of time, but Ghost itself has become cemented in its place as a pop culture icon that managed to be equal parts romance and supernatural fantasy as well as a competent thriller of sorts.
And it’s now a musical.
Having opened at the Manchester Opera House in 2011, Ghost The Musical has been travelling the globe these last 4 years with a rotating cast and original soundtrack.
While the 2 hour long musical competently adapts the similarly long film, its use of musical and dance numbers forces the plot into a slightly rushed pace that is highlighted only because of the questionable necessity of some of the recurring, if not repetitive, sequences.
With close to 20 musical numbers, the necessity of some of the reprisals regarding their contribution to the narrative comes into question.
Of course, iconic pieces like Unchained Melody–perfectly arranged with an incredibly entertaining take by Liam Doyle (Sam Wheat)–still shine and pull scenes together, managing to be an emotional anchor. Unfortunately, the remaining pieces tend to range from slightly less memorable to outright unnecessary.
While music and dance sequences are often the best way to set the atmosphere of a city’s influence on any play, the recurring theme of New York’s busy landscape contributed very little beyond its first occurrence.
Despite the slightly out-of-place musical numbers, Ghost‘s use of pre-recorded footage and on-screen projections makes the play stand out as one of the most unique ones I’ve seen in quite some time.
Even though it’s easy to be caught up in the brilliance and charm of the sets and cinematics, the cast successfully keep the emotions of the characters grounded and positioned front and foremost as the most important part of the story.
Special mention has to be made of Lucie Jones’ portrayal of Molly Jensen. Not only is it comparatively stronger to the original, she also manages to outshine Wendy Mae Brown, filling in Whoopi Goldberg’s shoes as comic relief Oda Mae Brown–not an easy feat by any means.
With Ghost The Musical entering it’s final performances here in Singapore, be sure to catch this hybrid display soon!
Tickets can be booked via Sistic for the following performances at the Sands Theatre, MasterCard Theatres @ Marina Bay Sands:
Tue – Fri: 7.30pm
Sat: 2pm & 7.30pm
Sun: 1pm & 6pm