“Life is like a matchstick; our flame burns bright but it quickly extinguishes and we become …merely smoke”. So says ‘Stephen Sublime’ in this fabulous story of Oscar Wilde’s Canterville Ghost, presented by Tall Stories, writes Lizzie Paul.
On a grim and windy night, the Southwark Playhouse did indeed shine out like a warm, glowing flame. This fabulous production is light on grisly and heavy on ghostly. It’s also heavy on laughs, music and magic.
To set the scene, the red velvet curtain rises to reveal a Victorian theatre troupe who entertains us with proper old variety ‘turns’ while telling the story. It’s a metadrama; a play within a play, just like that of Shakespeare’s Hamlet – but with laughs. Plus, between the story some fabulous pyrotechnic magic tricks, a foul-mouthed puppet and acts of mysticism pepper the narration. And it’s spooky.
Sir Simon de Canterville has been haunting his country pile for centuries, scaring off any proposed residents, except for his weary old housekeeper. We first see the new occupants, the Otis family, moving in – and pooh-poohing any silly ideas of hauntings. What follows is a madcap and chaotic challenge between the living and the dead – or maybe it isn’t…
The Otis children are twins who rush about causing mayhem and generally winding up the poor old ghost. The choreography here is brilliant, and their antics put me in mind of Marx Brothers, or characters in The Beano! In fact, the whole production is like a trip back in time.
The ghost himself, played by the multi-talented Callum Patrick Hughes is a whining, miserable old soul who might be a few hundred years old but can still bust some great dance moves. The housekeeper, also played by Patrick Hughes, is just as miserable. The scene where she eats a piece of fruitcake is hilarious and a finely crafted piece of comedy. This scene alone is worth the ticket price.
At one point, Victoria Otis risks all to travel to the spirit world to plead the ghost’s case for a decent burial, like a music hall Persephone. She jumps into a box, into which many knives are plunged. But it all works out well in the end.
Elsewhere in this glorious Victorian extravaganza, Katie Tranter’s psychic medium is something else; as the spirits enter her body she turns, she gurns, she looks like an All Black doing the haka. Matt Jopling is a stooge to his ventriloquist doll – as hard as I tried I could not see his lips move! Steve Watts is the music hall compere who keeps this whole madness rolling along, as well as being a talented pianist.
The second part becomes far more ghostly and we learn more about the theatre troupe, which is based on real-life actors. The moral of the story is, tell your tale because we all have one to tell. Make special connections and don’t leave it too late. And don’t let this wonderful piece of theatre pass you by. For we are all just matchsticks…
Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD until 5th November. Times: Monday – Saturday, 7.30pm; Tuesday and Saturday matinee, 3pm. Admission: Standard tickets are £22 with previews at £14 and concession rates at £18.
Booking: 020 7407 0234 – https://www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-large/the- canterville-ghost/
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