Saw Ghost today - I loved it. I went expecting a wonderful afternoon of entertainment and that is what I got - can't really fault it. I liked the film, but loved the musical. I guess the one thing missing is the one big memorable hit tune...but for me that didn't matter. I blubbed at the end and gave them a standing ovation. From Row A I still couldn't see how some of the effects were done. My review isn't based on anything technical, just pure enjoyment factor and for that I give it 5 stars! - Rachel
30 Jun 12
Absolutely awesome - couldn't see how it could match the film but it was outstanding and the special effects were incredible. The actors were flawless and stunning. Proved my mascara was waterproof! Would see this time and time again. - Tan
20 May 12
Excellent musical! Saw it on the 17th and loved every minute of it. Was a bit apprehensive at first but I was soon wowed by it all. The production value is incredible, easily one of the best out there! Highly recommended! - Conor
19 Feb 12
Absolutely awful. Appalling American accents; unmemorable songs; a sheer absence of real feeling; and pretty poor dancing from a far-too-large cast of extras. - Laura
05 Feb 12
Saw Richard Fleeshman and Cassie Levy's final West End performance today......... and came home and imediately booked a ticket to New York this summer to see them on the West End.........then proceeded to watch the movie which I have always loved. However, the movie didn't seem to do anything for me. Richard and Cassie were perfect as Sam and Molly and after speaking with them both backstage it only increased my love for them. Cannot wait to see it again on broadway this summer. Perfect casting, perfect performance, perfect night. If only they could remake the film, or at least release a DVD of the musical with the original cast - something to hopefully look forward to in the future :) - Sarah Palmer
13 Jan 12
Well, I saved this one for the weekend visit of a friend, as it’s based on one of her favourite films, hence the somewhat belated visit 5 months after opening. In fact, I might have been the only one in the audience who’s never seen the film – this is clearly chick-flick-on-stage a la Dirty Dancing. Fortunately it’s a whole lot better than Dirty Dancing in Matthew Warchus staging and Rob Howell’s design (with terrific projections from Jon Driscoll).
It’s a lot more than a love story and I was pleasantly surprised by its depth. Much of it takes place in the lovers apartment, but when it moves to the streets the staging becomes spectacular. Paul Kieve’s special effects are excellent, crucial to the story and slickly executed. In fact, its impossible to fault the production – this is premiere league stagecraft. On first hearing, I found Dave Stewart’s music a bit bland and formulaic, but I didn’t dislike it and I suspect it would benefit from more listening.
Both leads – Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy – are excellent, though on Saturday they were well and truly upstaged by understudy Lisa Davina Phillip as Oda Mae who was in great voice, exceptionally funny and moving when she needed to be. Another understudy, Paul Ayers as Carl, acquitted himself extremely well too.
The slickness is, to some extent, at the price of heart, because it didn’t move this old softie as much as it probably should, but for spectacular staging it’s hard to beat. A very pleasant surprise indeed. - Gareth James
23 Nov 11
There is something clinical and mechanical about Ghost, as is all involved had analysed what makes a successful musical and then assembled all the component parts. There is much use of video projection, like Dirty Dancing, with choreography reminiscent of Enron. The score has the requisite power ballads, gospel, vaudeville tap routine and even rap with Unchained Melody recurring throughout. However one of those ballads is particularly good and the orchestrations are beautiful, especially the use of the cello. Ghost may be rather cynical and emotionally manipulative but the story draws you in and it's all presented with such confidence that it's impossible not to enjoy. Richard Fleeshman's voice does not blend very well with Caissie Levy's but he sings with real power and feeling even if he is far too young for the part. Sharon D. clarke brings welcome humour to a genuinely dark and unsettling story and Levy is brilliant as Molly, blessed with enviable range and depth of emotion. Paul Kieve's much-vaunted illusions are actually pretty straightforward until the genuinely awe-inspiring ending but the lighting is superb throughout. It has to be said though that by the end the emotion in the audience is palpable and is conveyed beautifully. Although this review sounds a bit carping Ghost does provide a rewarding and sometimes impressive evening but I do have doubts if it would justify a second visit. My wife would totally disagree - she hasn't wept this much in a theatre since Miss Saigon and immediately insisted that we book to see it again. - David Baxter
13 Nov 11
I saw one of the preview shows of Ghost and thought it was amazing. Go and see it! I cried like a baby several times during the show and the special effects were top class. Richard Fleeshman is the perfect Sam - great singer and actor, plus I'd happily pay £65 just to see Richard looking gorgeous in that little white vest (don't tell my husband). Cassie was great too, but was a little bit too 'shouty' for me in some of her songs. All in all a really good night out. - Susanne
16 Sep 11
It was stunning from start to finish! I four main characters were excellent and the staging was suberb - must see (In my case: Must see again) - Sam
19 Aug 11
Absolutely top drawer musical. Critics? Who cares. These performers performed to the highest level. Outstanding one & all. Makes you proud to be British! - Neil Holden
17 Aug 11
The critics don't like this show much so theres your clue. In the main the audience love it. My wife and I thought it was one of the best productions we have seen for a while and we have seen a fair few. Forget Betty Blue Eyes - this is a proper musical. I did a review on that pooper but it didnt get published. Maybe I'll have more luck this time. OK - the songs aren't great and you forget them as soon as you walk out the theatre but it doesn't matter - they fit the show. The staging is clever and the production slick. Ignore the critics and go see the show! - D W Pimbley
31 Jul 11
absolutely amazing! funny and poignant with great acting, superb singing and brilliant effects. i almost became dehydrated with the amount of tears! plus, richard fleeshman is very sexy - mf
28 Jul 11
Fabulous light show but a pity about the rest. Awful songs and some pretty duff magic, especially at the end as you could see how they did the vanishing trick from where I sat. The American accents were terrible and what was the point of all the extras I do not know as their so called dance numbers were pretty lame too. I can see it will be a runner though with the girls night out brigade. Worthwhile going to see for the staging and fab light show but not the rest. - ils
25 Jul 11
Ok the songs are not as good as they should be, the cast ain't as good as the original and the constant set changes seem endless. But it was never the less very well done. It''s certainly better than Betty Blue Eyes and Shrek although Lend Me A tenor is the only one i would want to see again ;) - Mike
20 Jul 11
Amazing, compelling, moving. One of the best shows i've seen in years. Finally someone's worked out how to adapt a film into an original musical. Loved every minute of it!
Take tissues! - Jules
20 Jul 11
I have to disagree in so many ways with the reviews here... everything about this show is wonderful with one but integral component - the music - which is instantly forgettable.
There are too many ballads, and the things that get sung about don't seem to be the right things, which left me feeling slightly cold to it.
As the show is basically the theatrical equivalent of a 'chick flick' - and as a gay man, I can easily see there's plenty... in the form of Richard Fleeshman - to find very watchable about it, nevertheless the first 40 minutes really drag and things don't get moving until Sharon D Clark comes on and injects a bit of life into the piece.
I have no doubt that this is a show that will get bums on seats, but hey, Flashdance got bums on seats. Need I say more... It will almost certainly be still around long after many 'better' shows have bitten the dust, however, that doesn't make it a five star show. - Richard Voyce
20 Jul 11
Incredible, that London theatre critics are giving this show 3 stars is shocking to me, its a five star show. I wish we would start supporting our new musicals more, maybe then the British musical scene would not be dying a death - Craig
20 Jul 11
Great show, couldn't remember all of the film though that didn't matter. Loved the effects,impressive & very 21st century. All in all an enjoyable evening. - Jenny
20 Jul 11
Sorry, meant to give 5 stars!!! - Peter Szabo
19 Jul 11
When I first heard about Ghost as a musical, I was a bit sceptic. That iconic movie with such passion and a real sad story, I couldn’t imagine how could it be a top musical? Now I can say it is the most thrilling show on stage I have ever seen. Top cast, top music and top sets. To be honest I didn’t have many information about the cast, being a foreign in this country. I only heard about Caissie Levy as she was in the Broadway revival of Hair last year in London. That show was really something, the connection between the cast and audience was fantastic, and you really could get into the hippy mood. Hair is one of my favourite shows as I’ve seen it 25 times in my country (Hungary) and twice in London. So when I heard Caissie will be Molly I knew it straight I have to watch this show. I joined the facebook site of the show to make sure I am up-to-date all the time. I booked my ticket 2 months advance and could’t wait to see it live and of course meet with Caissie at stage door. I saw Ghost on 28th of June, so quite early in the London run.
I was so curious about the illusions, and of course of the tunes as well. Previously I could listen 4 songs on the official home page of Ghost, but listening a recorded song is not the same listen it live in the story. As soon as the show started, I knew it it will be spot on. ‘Here right now’ is a great kick off of the show, it can show the strenght of Caissie’s, Richard’s and Andrew’s voice. The connection between Caissie and Richard is amazing, you can tell they really like what they’re doing. And I have to say Richard must be the luckiest guy right now… I guess many man will be in his shoes. That part, when Sam dies everything happen so fast, and when you hear the shoot Sam is already up on his feet as a ghost. And you just can’t believe your eyes, how does that happened. Oda Mae appearance is the fun and joy in the show which is really good as it balance out the sadness and brings some laugh to us.
As the show is going on, you just feel you are totally into the story, the emotions, the feelings is soo real, and you would just jump on the stage and give Caissie a big hug when she sings ‘With You’. Sitting in the row C I could see, that is a real emotion and looking around the stalls you can see people getting their tissues out. If you lost someone really important in your life, this song is really brings tears into your eyes. Every word in this song is very heavy and even you crying you can’t stop listening this. I lost my grandma few months ago and when l listen this song I realize how much I miss her. For me “Thought my heart is broken, it keeps breaking every day” are the most powerful lines in a song. You can listen the songs for free on the facebook site and I tell you, since they allowed us to listen, I did it countlessly.
All the songs are fenomenal, Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard are geniuses and the show found the best actors and actresses for the roles. Suspend my disbelief / I had a life, Rain / Hold on are brilliant songs. I believe not many people could sing the songs like Caissie, Richard, Andrew and of course Sharon. These four could play the phonebook and you would still queue up to buy tickets. But with this story, with these musics and illusions this show is a real Must see! I really liked the Subway scenes as well, Adebayo Bolaji is a “true” subway ghost, sounds like the song was written to him. To be honest all the songs are really suit to the actors/actresses. As I know they were there from the beginning so they had the chance if they wanted to change something, or do something differently.
All the main points from the movie are on stage as well. You try to figure out how some of the illusions have been done. I was moving around to see how Sam walks trough the door but I have no idea. The best at the end, when Sam is just fade in from nothing and then fade out the same way. These illusions, what you’ve never seen on stage before, give the wow factor to the show and make it comlete. Getting a standing ovation every night is not usual here in London as I heard the londoners are very critical. But these people totally deserve it so don’t be afraid to stand up at the end of the show.I saw it once, and I can’t wait to see it again and again. I can recommend this show with confidence, you won’t be disappointed, and I’m sure you will want to watch it at least one more time as well.
I would be more then surprised if this show is not winning anything on the WOS Awards in 2012. I would say this should be the Best new musical, at least one of the main caracters should win and the music as well. If they transfer it to Broadway there will be a huge success as well, I am sure. - Peter Szabo
19 Jul 11
Absolutely brilliant and will be a big hit. The main thing about it is that it kept very much to the film which has become so Iconic and the Special effects were superb. The cast where top class and even though the dances were not the best I have seen, it was good enough and always in the background so did not deter from the story. Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman are perfect in their Demi Moore-Patrick Swayze roles and make them their own and what superb voices though I have to say that Caissie's is phenomenal and actually in some of the duets did drown out Richards voice but did not matter as they were both good. Andrew Langtree was a great good guy/bad guy and as for Sharon D Clarke well she made Oda Mae Brown all her own and almost stole every scene she was in---brilliant performance and will deserve an award as Best Supporting actress in a Musical next year. One of the best shows in the west end and already booking to see it again. Well done and more shows like this please!!! - Joe Spiteri
17 Jul 11
Went to a preview performance of this last night, 5 days before its official west end opening. The fact that the previews are not discounted and the house was full gives you some idea of the interest in this show.
This is a hard one to review. Firstly, it is not like anything Ive seen in a muscical before. The use of multimedia is impressive and progresses the story rather than detracting from it. This superbly modern staging never becomes repetitive and there is always something to look at.
The performances are excellent, with the slight exception of the guy who Andrew Langtree who plays Carl who struggles with the American accent and doesnt really have the presence for the role, reducing it slightly to a pantomime villian.
Richard Fleeshman is excellent, on stage throughout and handles the range of emotions well. Caissie is outstanding. A beautiful voice well suited to the pop songs.
Now it is a musical so what is it like. Well its modern and varied. From a few nice gentle ballads to a good old fashioned gospel number. I have to say none of the numbers are outstanding but most help progress the story perfectly well and dont get in the way. However, I have to mention one song. The rap sung by the ghost on the tube train is so out of place here. Its a novel idea to try and integrate a rap and the issue the character is trying to get over is valid however the song grates and many shifted uncomfortably in their seat.
The book is spot on. I cant remember anything from the film that isnt here and the story is clear and effective.
Everyone seeing this will mention one thing, the special effects. There are many and several did evoke a wow from the audience. From the Royal Circle I could see how a couple were achieved however I sat their in awe through most of them. Particularly memorable are the tube train fight with slow motion scenes and people and objects 'floating' in the carriage and also the end sequence with Sam appearing from nowhere on stage and later fading away into ethereal stars. In fact the ending is stunning and the audience provided a well deserved standing ovation. Technically there is a lot to go wrong here, but it all worked flawlessly.
The most important thing about this production is it has the possibility of attracting a younger audience with its multimedia staging and pop/rock score.
Not everything in the show works perfectly. The dancers in the production scenes almost appear surplus to requirements and appear to be there just to fill the stage.
However, its the whole of the experience that counts and from the buzz from the departing audience this has the chance to become a firm audience favourite with a genuine buzz about it.
I for one feel its so refreshing to see something completely different from anything that has gone before. - Kevinyork
