WHAT: Ghost The Musical
WHERE: Seacoast Rep
BLURB: A Fan Fav Movie On Stage
HIGH POINT: Every Single Thing
TL;DR GHOST: Movie to Stage and better for it. This production is theater at its best.
So, Ghost, The Musical? Really? Yes, really!
It feels ridiculous to waste a lot of words on this show; one could wax on about it at length. Truth is the current Rep production requires only a few succinct comments to summarize.
Simply put: Don't let yourself down. Go. The show is outstanding, and magical.
No doubt there are Ghost purists who won't agree (hard to imagine), but for many the musical version will offer a greater level of drama, angst, passion, and yes, theatrical dazzle. It's an elevated experience of a favorite tale.
Ghost is a delicious story. There's a murder mystery, spooky creatures, and romance and the great, occasional laughs.
And, of course, where there's ghosts, there's magic, which this production does up in festive bows - as scripted, in every single performance and with exquisite supporting arts.
We initially meet Molly (Alyssa Dumas) and Sam (Sean Mullaney) as the much in love couple moves in together. Shortly after, Sam is killed during a mugging.
Sam lingers on earth, and discovers that the attach was not random. He was actually targeted and now Molly is in danger. He follows Molly, who is bing comforted by his friend Carl (Sam Robert Rogers)and unsuccessfully tries communicating with her.
In time he finds his way to Oda Mae Brown, (Alexandra Mullaney), a psychic who thinks she's a fake till he's able to contact her, and a Subway Ghost (Robert Fabricio Armstrong), who together change the playing field.
Dumas, Sean Mullaney and Alexandra Mullaney all leave their stamp on their individual character; these are not-to--be-missed performances. Each delivers an authentic, and impeccably nuanced portrayal. Sean is touching, Alexandra hilarious, and Dumas so real, it hurts. And then there are the pipes - controlled, rich and euphonious. There's a whole lot of adjectives that could be added, suffice it to say they are clean, real and something special to behold.
Sam Robert Rogers gives an equally polished and perfect performance as Carl, Sam's friend and co worker.
Robert Fabricio Armstrong paints a deeply moving and powerful performance of Subway Ghost, a rather difficult role to convey authentically, and he nails it.
There is not a single inconsequential performance in the show. Each supporting portrayal is incredible; Michelle Faria's hilarious old woman; Joshua Lapierre's hapless banker, Sieglinda Fox and Christopher Hobson as Oda's sassy siblings, plus Tobin Moss, Bob Porzio, Ella Luke and this incredible ensemble. Not a character is out of place - even the "performer" in the back, second from the left (as they say) is on point.
As for the production, each additional visual and audio art is in perfect harmony, and enhances.
Directors Ben Hart and Brandon James have put together an exquisite package with deft designers and a divine cast.
As for the pair's personal jobs: as directors, they seamlessly deliver the magic; as costume designers, perfect (oh those creepy creatures from another dimension!), and as set designers - great staging and smart use of space.
They also bring the magic, with Hart leading the team putting together dazzling, and effective special effects.
The dance routines by choreographers Jason Faria and Alyssa Dumas add color, and the interpretive pieces depth.
The nine-piece orchestra, directed and conducted by William Asher (also performing keyboards), is rich and memorable.
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