Dynamic direction and strong performances at mtc's romance-thriller ghost: The Musical
By Kiersten Bjork (April 26, 2024)
Ghost: The Musical at Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) is an entrancing evening of storytelling featuring dynamic direction and strong performances. Part romance, part thriller, this heartfelt yet heart-wrenching show will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first downbeat.
Ghost: The Musical, with book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, is based on the 1990 Paramount Pictures film Ghost, written by Rubin. The story follows the relationship of Sam and Molly, a young couple living in New York City. On a night out, they are attacked on their way home, and what starts as a mugging ends in Sam’s tragic death. When he dies, Sam becomes stuck between the world of the living and the dead, and as the story progresses, he realizes that Molly is in danger and that his death may have been more than just a tragic accident. With an impressive score and a talented cast, MTC’s Ghost: The Musical is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
MTC’s production features direction by Kevin Connors with musical direction by Tony Bellomy and choreography by Clint Hromsco. The direction is compelling and clearly strives to use the space to its fullest potential. One of the key characteristics of any show in MTC’s space is how close performers are, physically, to the audience. Ghost: The Musical really digs into that proximity, with actors constantly entering and exiting on all sides and getting up close and personal with the front row of audience members for numerous songs. The choreography is engaging throughout, with my favorite moments being the very linear movements of “More” and the fun and chaotic choices in “Are You a Believer?.”
Ghost: The Musical at Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) is an entrancing evening of storytelling featuring dynamic direction and strong performances. Part romance, part thriller, this heartfelt yet heart-wrenching show will have you on the edge of your seat from the very first downbeat.
Ghost: The Musical, with book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin and music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, is based on the 1990 Paramount Pictures film Ghost, written by Rubin. The story follows the relationship of Sam and Molly, a young couple living in New York City. On a night out, they are attacked on their way home, and what starts as a mugging ends in Sam’s tragic death. When he dies, Sam becomes stuck between the world of the living and the dead, and as the story progresses, he realizes that Molly is in danger and that his death may have been more than just a tragic accident. With an impressive score and a talented cast, MTC’s Ghost: The Musical is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
MTC’s production features direction by Kevin Connors with musical direction by Tony Bellomy and choreography by Clint Hromsco. The direction is compelling and clearly strives to use the space to its fullest potential. One of the key characteristics of any show in MTC’s space is how close performers are, physically, to the audience. Ghost: The Musical really digs into that proximity, with actors constantly entering and exiting on all sides and getting up close and personal with the front row of audience members for numerous songs. The choreography is engaging throughout, with my favorite moments being the very linear movements of “More” and the fun and chaotic choices in “Are You a Believer?.”
Allie Seibold and Seth Eliser in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Ladonna Burns, Allie Seibold, and Seth Eliser in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Allie Seibold plays Molly and gives a really wonderful performance. Her Molly is controlled and focused until it all breaks apart and we see the cracks in everything she thought would be. There is a yearning to Molly, both before and after Sam is killed, and Seibold embodies that beautifully. Seibold has a strong voice and really shines during her solo numbers. I particularly enjoyed her rendition of “With You.”
Sam is played by Seth Eliser. Sam goes on such a journey in this piece, beginning as a seemingly carefree spirit that is thrust into the panic and chaos of his experiences after death, before finding a purpose and drive again in protecting Molly. Eliser takes us on that journey with such dedication and skill, really giving his all to the role. He’s incredibly expressive in his movements and choices and backs it all up with an impressive voice.
Matt Mancuso is charming as Carl, drawing us in at the beginning before turning everything on its head as the story continues. Carl is really one of those we-love-to-hate-them characters. He’s sharp and volatile when he needs to be, and soft and caring when he wants to be. Mancuso possesses an energy that underlies his performance, a current that we can always feel under the surface as the story moves toward its tipping point. It’s really fascinating to watch, and the intensity that he brings in songs such as “More” really adds to the role.
One of my favorite aspects of the production as a whole is Ladonna Burns as Oda Mae Brown. Brown is a showman, a hustler to begin with, and then a frustrated and initially unwilling interpreter for Sam following his death. Burns is an absolute riot in this role, playing up the humor of the facade and then the comedic moments of her conversations with Sam, an entity that she can’t actually see, only hear. Her songs are fantastic, and the audience was in stitches every time she dove into the comedy underlying her dialogue and scenes. She’s spunky, she’s strong, and she’s absolutely hilarious.
Sam is played by Seth Eliser. Sam goes on such a journey in this piece, beginning as a seemingly carefree spirit that is thrust into the panic and chaos of his experiences after death, before finding a purpose and drive again in protecting Molly. Eliser takes us on that journey with such dedication and skill, really giving his all to the role. He’s incredibly expressive in his movements and choices and backs it all up with an impressive voice.
Matt Mancuso is charming as Carl, drawing us in at the beginning before turning everything on its head as the story continues. Carl is really one of those we-love-to-hate-them characters. He’s sharp and volatile when he needs to be, and soft and caring when he wants to be. Mancuso possesses an energy that underlies his performance, a current that we can always feel under the surface as the story moves toward its tipping point. It’s really fascinating to watch, and the intensity that he brings in songs such as “More” really adds to the role.
One of my favorite aspects of the production as a whole is Ladonna Burns as Oda Mae Brown. Brown is a showman, a hustler to begin with, and then a frustrated and initially unwilling interpreter for Sam following his death. Burns is an absolute riot in this role, playing up the humor of the facade and then the comedic moments of her conversations with Sam, an entity that she can’t actually see, only hear. Her songs are fantastic, and the audience was in stitches every time she dove into the comedy underlying her dialogue and scenes. She’s spunky, she’s strong, and she’s absolutely hilarious.
Jeff Raab, Seth Eliser, and Matt Mancuso in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Kayla Arias and Teagan La’Shay in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Jeff Raab plays the Hospital Ghost, as well as a variety of ensemble characters. He brings an all-knowing humor to the Ghost, almost giving a Good Omens-style energy to the part. His number is entertaining, as is Scott Mikita’s number as the Subway Ghost. Mikita also handles additional ensemble tracks, but I was particularly impressed by his rendition of the sharp, violent, spoken-word-style “Focus.”
Willie Lopez is usually played by Paul Aguirre, but at the performance I attended the role was covered by Miguel Angel Acevedo. Acevedo played up the physicality of the role, shifting and gesturing with a nervous energy that fit the nature of the character well.
Kayla Arias and Teagan La’Shay are incredibly fun as Oda Mae’s assistants, and both sing those backup vocals with sass and strength. Rounding out the ensemble is Leeanna Rubin as Mrs. Santiago and others, and Rubin is so entertaining to watch, particularly as Mrs. Santiago in “Are You a Believer?.” The ensemble as a whole performs the group movement choreography with precise focus and fluid chemistry, and I really enjoyed the numbers that featured the entire ensemble onstage.
Willie Lopez is usually played by Paul Aguirre, but at the performance I attended the role was covered by Miguel Angel Acevedo. Acevedo played up the physicality of the role, shifting and gesturing with a nervous energy that fit the nature of the character well.
Kayla Arias and Teagan La’Shay are incredibly fun as Oda Mae’s assistants, and both sing those backup vocals with sass and strength. Rounding out the ensemble is Leeanna Rubin as Mrs. Santiago and others, and Rubin is so entertaining to watch, particularly as Mrs. Santiago in “Are You a Believer?.” The ensemble as a whole performs the group movement choreography with precise focus and fluid chemistry, and I really enjoyed the numbers that featured the entire ensemble onstage.
Paul Aguirre and Seth Eliser in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Jeff Raab in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Scenic and props design by April M. Bartlett is simple yet effective, reflecting a classic MTC style. Sliding panels upstage are used for walls, doors, and more, and I really loved the use of layered fabric to create a “veil” of sorts between worlds. The use of projection on these panels is a nice touch that elevated the settings. Blocks of varying sizes and shapes roll on and off for apartment furniture and more, with additional practical furniture pieces being added here and there for the bank and other locations.
Lighting designer RJ Romeo employs great use of color and movement in the lighting to create an interesting space for the show to live within. I enjoyed the disco-style lights for certain numbers. There were one or two scenes that felt too dark, particularly one conversation that was far upstage, and another in the down stage left corner, but it’s a toss-up if that was due to design, missing a mark, or the cue being off.
Costumes by Diane Vanderkroef are solid reflections of character, with nothing too out of the ordinary as the show is set in modern New York. The ghosts in white are a good choice, and I liked the all-white suits employed for a few of them. My favorite costumes were Oda Mae’s, as they had fun pops of color and pattern that really drew the eye.
Sound design by Jon Damast is well done. In such an intimate space, it can be hard to get just the right balance between a powerful band and the performers. However, there were very few moments when I felt that the band overpowered the voices, which was great. There was one moment where Sam’s mic began to go in and out, and it was on a particularly quiet song of his, but other than that the overall sound quality was solid.
Lighting designer RJ Romeo employs great use of color and movement in the lighting to create an interesting space for the show to live within. I enjoyed the disco-style lights for certain numbers. There were one or two scenes that felt too dark, particularly one conversation that was far upstage, and another in the down stage left corner, but it’s a toss-up if that was due to design, missing a mark, or the cue being off.
Costumes by Diane Vanderkroef are solid reflections of character, with nothing too out of the ordinary as the show is set in modern New York. The ghosts in white are a good choice, and I liked the all-white suits employed for a few of them. My favorite costumes were Oda Mae’s, as they had fun pops of color and pattern that really drew the eye.
Sound design by Jon Damast is well done. In such an intimate space, it can be hard to get just the right balance between a powerful band and the performers. However, there were very few moments when I felt that the band overpowered the voices, which was great. There was one moment where Sam’s mic began to go in and out, and it was on a particularly quiet song of his, but other than that the overall sound quality was solid.
Matt Mancuso and Allie Seibold in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical (Alex Mongillo)
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Jeff Raab, Teagan La’Shay, Ladonna Burns, and Kayla Arias in MTC’s Ghost: The Musical
(Alex Mongillo) |
Ghost: The Musical is an exploration of love and life, grief and death, and everything mixed up in those emotions, all set to a fantastic score and supported by great talent. Don’t miss your chance to experience the production for yourself– see Ghost: The Musical at MTC before it closes on April 28!
Ghost: The Musical runs April 12-28 at Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk, CT. Tickets are available online at musictheatreofct.com/ghost-the-musical or by calling the Box Office at (203) 454-3883.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
Ghost: The Musical runs April 12-28 at Music Theatre of Connecticut in Norwalk, CT. Tickets are available online at musictheatreofct.com/ghost-the-musical or by calling the Box Office at (203) 454-3883.
Kiersten Bjork is a theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.