Ghost the Musical
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Cititour.com Review
How sad it is to take a great film like Ghost and, instead of theatrical innovation, produce a poor imitation of the film on stage, thereby doing nothing in the way of advancing interest in either property. The adaptation comes to Broadway via London where Ghost the Musical somehow seemed like a good move to the Great White Way. It's not that director Matthew Warchus and his creative team of Bruce Joel Rubin (book and lyrics, also the original screenplay), Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard (music and lyrics) fail to grasp most of the elements which are essential for great musical theater--heart, humor, suspense--it's that they've packaged Ghost with so many cinematic elements that the audience can never relax into this new musical world.
The two main leads transferred with the show from London. Molly, a sculptor (Caissie Levy) and Sam (Richard Fleeshman), a banker, are in love. He gets killed and comes back from the dead by talking through pessimistic physic Oda Mae Brown (Da'Vine Joy Randolph in a dynamic Broadway debut). Sam's partner, Carl (Bryce Pinkham), is in deep financial trouble. In a flash, everyone is running for their lives.
The score is forgettable save for the old hit, "Unchained Melody" (penned by Zaret/North). Ashley Wallen's dance numbers feel like filler because, in fact, they are. An unidentified chorus sings back-up and takes the stage every time the scenery changes for no apparent reason. The tech team includes not only sound and lights, but illusions and videos, too. Not a moment goes by when the audience isn't reminded that this used to be a film. Videos, slides and film sequences (including one in a love scene) are poor excuses for theatrical scenery and creativity. The use of these techniques is downright distracting.
It's a shame, really, because Levy, Fleeshman, Randolph and Pinkham all sing beautifully and deliver true performances filled with real feeling. If only the technical elements weren't always in the way of this true emotion, Ghost the Musical could have bridged the gap between a movie and a musical.
By Lesley Alexander
Visit the Site
http://www.ghostonbroadway.com/
Cast
Richard Fleeshman, Caissie Levy, Bryce Pinkham, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Tyler McGee, Lance Roberts, Moya Angela, Jason Babinsky, Michael Balderrama, James Brown III, Stephen Carrasco, Jeremy Davis, Sharona D’Ornellas, Josh Franklin, Albert Guerzon, Afra Hines, Carly Hughes, Karen Hyland, Alison Luff, Vasthy Mompoint, Jennifer Noble, Joe Aaron Reid, Constantine Rousouli, Jennifer Sanchez, Daniel Watts, Jesse Wildman
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/15/2012
Closing 8/18/2012
Box Office
800-745-3000
Theatre Info
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
205 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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