Ghost The Musical - U.K. Tour 2024/5

[Being Alive]

Despite my reservations, and despite my anger at Sarah Harding being cast, I am going on Monday. Feel I should give the girl a chance. She's had time to settle in (and if she isn't on my friend is the understudy so its not all bad )

[richard2711]

I saw this on its last night in Cardiff. It was nowhere near as bad as I was expecting but, for me, paled in comparison to the original production. Apparently there was a sign up saying Sarah Harding wouldn't be performing at that show but it was definitely her. I actually thought her acting was much better than her signing and there were quite a few bum notes and incorrect lyrics to be heard. On the way out I heard several people say she was "dire" but that was far too strong a word for me.

The st did look a bit cheap and nasty but again, nowhere near as bad as I'd been led to believe. I did think that some parts were a little rushed though, especially the musical numbers ('Here Right Now' being a notable example).

As a scaled-down production, I thought it did what it said on the tin. I wasn't expecting the original production and I didn't get it. But I think the show needs a bit more of a spectacle than is given to it by this production.

[Musicality21]

I'm going tomorrow night. Interesting to read the more recent positive comments - obviously it's not going to be like the last tour so will go in with an open mind and lower expectations so hopefully won't be disappointed. A friend went the other night and she thought it was ok - but it was her first ever time seeing the show and had nothing to compare it too. Will report back on my thoughts.

[universetipping]

Oct 28, 2016 8:14:21 GMT @westendlover said:

And that trailer doesn't look bad at all!! I think the set looks rather good to be honest and nothing cheap or nasty. I think the problem is people are comparing to the original and that's the problem. The original obviously had better sets and illusions but that was a completely different producer who did that show so they have to alter it again with a new set designer etc. If this was the first ever production of Ghost and people had nothing to compare it to then maybe it wouldn't receive so much backlash?!

Perhaps.
As much as it sounds like Sarah is passable in the role, to my mind she is a very average singer and cannot credibly lead a show of this scale.
It's kind of remarkable that she doesn't even have a solo in the trailer given that she is the 'star.'
I wish her well but I don't fancy paying £50 to see her in this.
Much of the initial reaction to her was intentionally vitriolic and thats wrong but at the end of the day people who have paid good money are going to come to a show with a critical eye.
All that said, good on her for sticking with the show.

[danb]

Oct 28, 2016 10:15:30 GMT @honouredguest said:

The other problem is idiots going to early previews and then feigning surprise that there's room for improvement.

Now, before it's even opened, it's getting full houses and audiences are tweeting their satisfaction.

What previews? There were none. That's not a luxury that touring casts get. I think 'idiots' is a bit strong, belittling others opinions of what was clearly a sub-standard, rushed production at first. Harding has only ever found power in a very small section of her voice which is why the Irish piece in GA did most of the heavy lifting. She'd have made a great Molly given an appropriate amount of rehearsal before opening to baying crowds.

[BurlyBeaR]

It was very interesting to see her at the curtain call. Body language says a great deal doesn't it? Some actors do the "sob sob oh I'm not worthy, why am I so popular, I'm going to get found out" shtick while crying their well rehearsed tears. SH looked rather more humble and genuine.

She didn't do a curtain call on her own. It was all very teamy.

[Deleted]

Oh dear no, no no NO!

This isn't even a shadow of what it used to be.

Sarah Harding was just not good. When you crack on the first note of the first song its not a good sign. Why give the one of the most iconic and emotional roles to someone whos only acting credits is Coronation Street, for which she was critically panned?

I was very surprised that With You was the only song that didnt go horribly wrong for her...apart from having to clear her throat after hitting the high note.

Andy Moss as Sam, his voice wasnt terrible, but it wasnt great...and it definitley wasnt powerful enough for the role.

Most noticable during I Had A Life...originally when Richard Fleeshman played Sam, his voice was booming above everyone elses, while Cassie Levy and Andrew Langtree were still audible. Tonight with this new production, couldnt understand a word being said during the end of the song, until the ensemble joined in to boost the sound, which was disappointing. It was better when it was just the three characters ending the song.

Spent most of the show, thinking that Mrs Santiago and Carl Bruner actors seemed to have better voices for the roles od Sam and Molly, just to discover that they are both the understudies...something isn't right there.

Jacqui DuBois and Sam Ferriday as Oda Mae and Carl, were the stand outs for me...best voices out of the main roles.

Also didnt like how the score has been completley butchered...new some songs were cut and new ones added at the time of the last tour, but everything was just changed and not for the better.

The poster for the show states thatbit is "unchained and reimagined"...chain it back up...if it aint broke dont fix it. Luckily I have the original cast recording to help me forget what I witnessed tonight.

Also special effects...or lack there of. Walking through the door was just laughable. Actually most of the show was just laughable.

Nearly left at the interval, until I realised I had left my phone and friend inside.

[Musicality21]

I was also there last night and sadly I agree with pretty much everything that was said above.

I went in with an open mind but admittedly fairly low expectations but I really wanted to be surprised and impressed. I could imagine if you'd never seen it you may have enjoyed it, but after seeing the first tour it was a massive let down.

The good point first:

Jacqui Dubois was superb as Oda Mae Brown. She really stole the show and made parts of it worth watching. She also got the loudest cheers at the end. Sam Ferriday also made a really good Carl. You could also tell that the ensemble were working really hard.

However, the good ends there.

It is nowhere near the quality of the original. The staging would have been ok if they had actually used proper effects for things. We were sat in the front stalls and could see the sliding compartment of the door which would open when Sam was trying to put his hand through or walk through. You could see Carl being dragged off stage by hand plus Oda Mae and Molly crouching over nothing because he was the only character without a body double. I sat close to the stage at the last tour and didn't clock anything near as obvious as last night. And don't get me started on the end scene!

The leads tried hard, I'll give them that. However they just weren't suited and didn't have strong enough voices. At times there were glimpses when their voices were ok. There were also times when there were some very awkward notes and cracks in voices - one in particular in what should have been an emotional part of the show and there was a sort of nervous laughter from the audience which was very audible in the stalls.

I just don't understand why Bill Kenwright thought it needed 'reimagining.' Tour the original with great leads and you will have a massive hit again - not this poor excuse for a replacement. Such a massive shame and wasted opportunity.

[Deleted]

Jacqui gets some great reviews so I hope she stays on throughout the tour next year but I'm interested to see if Sarah and Andy stay on too? I'm not convinced Sarah will since her criticism but also she probably doesn't want to be devoted to the show and Andy might? He's not a famous famous actor so I doubt he'll have much else to do if he doesn't do the tour but it depends if BK wants him to stay on? And the question is who will replace them should they leave? It'll be interesting to see if they are replaced with MT performers following the backlash eh got for this cast or celebrities again?

[BurlyBeaR]

Wow I must have got it on a good night? Or else I'm hopelessly easily pleased

I do note though that the bad reports of this ALWAYS refer back to the original and how this doesn't match up. I guess that means Ghost can never be revived again, unless the revival is going to surpass that original staging. Which is doubtful.

[Musicality21]

I'm all for revivals and new versions (in fact I may hold the very unpopular opinion that I prefer the newer version of Les Mis which toured for the 25th anniversary to the original version). However they still have to impress and at least equal if not better what has come before. To me, whilst the set in this isn't great but not massively awful, the lack of effects and illusions make this version a massive step backwards with no real reasoning behind it.

[dan]

Oct 30, 2016 18:55:37 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Wow I must have got it on a good night? Or else I'm hopelessly easily pleased

I do note though that the bad reports of this ALWAYS refer back to the original and how this doesn't match up. I guess that means Ghost can never be revived again, unless the revival is going to surpass that original staging. Which is doubtful.

While I did love the original staging / effects etc... I've seen some fantastic amateur productions of Ghost that I loved, so I don't think it's about being like the original. This "professional" production was well below amateur versions I've seen, particularly casting! But... like I said before, I may revisit in Nottingham and HOPE it has improved in some small way.

[Being Alive]

I'm going tonight - I'll give interval and post show thoughts.

I really enjoyed the original so this could be interesting. Going in with no expectations.

[oxfordsimon]

All three main roles were off tonight - but I suspect the show was better as a result.

Sadly the production is so lacklustre as to render their efforts rather pointless.

[Being Alive]

Oct 31, 2016 22:57:18 GMT oxfordsimon said:

All three main roles were off tonight - but I suspect the show was better as a result.

Sadly the production is so lacklustre as to render their efforts rather pointless.

Totally agree. I felt like this was the worst night I've actually ever had in the theatre.

Understudy Sam Molly and Carl. Molly and Oda Mae dragged the show to the bitter end. Horrible changes from the original show. Nothing made sense. The choreography made no sense. Acting choices were bizarre. Set was horrifically flimsy and unstable.

I knew this was going to be bad, but I hadn't expected it to be as awful as it was.

[oxfordsimon]

The choreography is simply atrocious - and it is clear that the company knows it as they do the minimum of 'going through the motions' with it.

Set was typical Billy K - cheap and poorly designed.

The band was sounding good.

But this incarnation of the show isn't worth the price of a free ticket and that is sad for the cast as well as the audience. I dread to think what it is like with the intended leads.

[Musicality21]

I wonder then if they were starting to get ill on Saturday then hence the strained vocals and bad notes and then being off on Monday. I can maybe understand that now. Doesn't excuse the poor show/production quality overall though.

[tcodd1]

I have never experienced such an awkward applause following a musical number as I did tonight. Out of a half-full Oxford New Theatre stalls, about 2 people began to clap after Sarah Harding's atrocious rendition of 'Nothing Stops Another Day', followed by a 5-10 second silence as she strolled off stage.

Yes, I know she has been ill. Yes, I know she has received bad reviews. But as others have posted, Sarah Harding is nowhere near good enough to lead this cast as Molly. I saw the show with a friend who has never seen the production before. During Sarah's songs, we chuckled, and afterwards we compared thoughts on her reaction to Sam's murder, except there wasn't any. It just doesn't work. Sarah tried her hardest and you could see she was putting as much effort in as she could, but overall she was the weakest link. 'With You' was average, but not the tearjerker you expect.

On the other hand, the rest of the cast, including Sam Ferriday understudying Sam and Jacqui Dubois as Oda Mae Brown led the show well. We were impressed - the passion and enthusiasm they had was infectious. It's just a shame that Sam was singing in-tune and trying to make up for Sarah's losses. The set and choreography were a bit naff in places, but good enough, and the orchestra balanced well.

However, it is just so difficult not to compare this tour to the West End and previous tour. This tour is completely different. My friend enjoyed it (apart from Sarah), but for me it didn't quite hit the nail on the head. I had no emotional connection to Molly and was left wondering what Sam really saw in her, because in this case she really didn't seem bothered!

I'll leave the decision on whether to see the show or not down to you...!

[dan]

Well... I attended this evening after only having seen it during its first week in Wimbledon. Tonight was Nottingham and I booked the ticket when they went on sale, before I'd seen it Inn Wimbledon.
I don't want to slate it for the sake of slating it, but I walked out after act one. I was so so hopeful that it will have improved (or at least that Sarah and Andy will have improved) but I was bitterly disappointed. This was the 52nd show I've seen this year, and the only one I've ever walked out of before the end.
My thoughts remain from the first experience of this production. Acting and singing of the leads (two leads, Carl was fine) made me feel on edge and embarrassed. It actually felt like they've changed the ending of songs / transitions from songs so there's no room for applause and started dialogue immediately after songs, aside from full cast songs.
My experience with this show is it going from my favourite ever theatrical experience to my worst. That's a pretty remarkable thing to happen.
I'm pleased other people enjoy this production as I wouldn't wish my experience on others, and there were clearly people enjoying the show tonight too.
Hope some others had a good time with it.

[talkstageytome]

Oh, it's a shame you didn't enjoy it and that it hasn't improved much since the tour started.

Is this due a cast change soon? I though Sarah at least was leaving around Xmas time. Tempted to see this in Dartford in Jan, as I never saw the show in London or caught the first tour, but I quite like the cast album.

[dan]

Dec 2, 2016 22:42:51 GMT talkstageytome said:

Oh, it's a shame you didn't enjoy it and that it hasn't improved much since the tour started.

Is this due a cast change soon? I though Sarah at least was leaving around Xmas time. Tempted to see this in Dartford in Jan, as I never saw the show in London or caught the first tour, but I quite like the cast album.

As far as I know their contracts finish tomorrow, but I don't know if they'll be extended or not. There are clearly people who enjoy this production, but it is hard for me not to compare to the LONDON, Broadway, and first tour productions. Which were all fantastic! I do think this *could be* entertaining with different leads, though still not a patch on previous productions. If you do go, I hope you enjoy it!

[Deleted]

Haven't Sarah and Andy left now?

Looks like it'll be the understudies playing the roles now then unless I've missed a casting announcement??

[dan]

I really hope, for this production's sake (& the audience), that Sarah & Andy are done now.
On a related note, I got a full refund from the performance I saw in December after complaining. Only ever complained about one production (officially!)... and it's this one.

[WireHangers]

I work at the Box Office of a theatre the show is playing in and, honestly, I cringe every time someone comes in and spends £45 a ticket for Ghost knowing that they're expecting the amazing previous tour but they're actually getting this cheap thing.

[biffo]

Jan 3, 2017 7:23:25 GMT WireHangers said:

I work at the Box Office in the Kings Theatre in Glasgow and, honestly, I cringe every time someone comes in and spends £45 a ticket for Ghost knowing that they're expecting the amazing previous tour but they're actually getting this cheap thing.

If I were you I'd repost this but without where you work for the risk of upsetting management and you getting warning!! .....