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The musical ‘Ghost’ makes a return
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THE musical “Ghost,” which is adapted from the Hollywood movie of the same name, will display the power of love at the Shanghai Culture Square this month.
After enjoying a successful first trip to China two years ago, the musical took off on its second tour to the mainland in November last year, and will perform in Shanghai again from January 30 to February 3.
Nominated for an Academy Award for best film in 1990, “Ghost” won numerous awards worldwide. Starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, the film won an Oscar for best original screenplay while Whoopi Goldberg won for best supporting actress.
Adapted for the stage by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Matthew Warchus, the musical has sold over million tickets worldwide since its premiere in Manchester in 2011. It has been nominated for three Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards, and it was recently voted the ninth best musical of all time in a radio survey.
The show in Shanghai will star Liam Doyle and Emily Tierney, veterans of British musical scenes.
As a story packed with both heavy and light-hearted themes, the musical’s producer Colin Ingram believed that “Ghost” was as an ideal material for a stage production.
Struck by the emotional potency of the film, Ingram eventually sought out Grammy Award winners Dave Steward and Glen Ballard to help create its music.
As in the movie, the song “Unchained Melody” features prominently in the production. The rest of the music though was created especially for the stage.
“Unchained Melody’’ is a powerful song that conveys the emotion and intensity that “Ghost” is famous for, according to Paul Warwick Griffin, the show’s assistant director.
A big challenge in bringing the beloved screen classic to the stage was meeting the expectations of the audience, who are big fans of the film, Griffin says.
“It’s important for us to give them what they want to see and experience,” says Griffin as he explains that the film’s iconic pottery-making scene and ghostly stage effects are an integral part of the show.
With the help of illusion designer Paul Kieve, audiences will watch Sam seemingly pass through walls and perform other ghostly feats.
Meanwhile, cool color lightings will also emphasize Sam’s non-corporeal form.
“Many people will focus on the show’s technical aspects. But ... I believe that the real reason for its popularity still lies in its emotional beauty — the idea of love surviving death,” says Griffin.
Having accompanied the musical, Griffin says that the audiences, regardless of nationality, respond in remarkably similar ways to its universal themes.
“As human beings with mortal lives, we have all lost somebody close to us as part of the normal life cycle. We are all scared about the idea of loss. The story keys into such a real place, regardless of language or cultural background,” says Griffin.
Date: January 30-February 3, 2pm, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Culture Square, 597 Fuxing Rd M.
Tickets: 80-980yuan
Tel: 6472-6000
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