Ghost Stories, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s horror-themed stage show, does its absolute best to put the fear in to you long before you take your seats.
The website warns that those of a nervous disposition or with a weak heart ought to steer clear; the theatre itself is decked out in ominous fashion, with unsettling plastic wrapping the walls and mysterious symbols adorning the corridors. The fact that there’s strictly no re-admission once the show begins – the knowledge that you can’t even leave to pop to the toilet – also ramps up the fear factor. But is the show worthy of it?
Sadly, not really. But that’s not to say it’s without merit.
The story and its various surprises are a closely guarded secret which we won’t spoil here, but suffice it to say that there’s a very effective framing device around which the titular tales are told. The stories are of a mixed nature, but all have effective moments, and the cast do a fine job throughout, in particular Paul Kemp as the de facto lead.
The main issue with Ghost Stories is that some of the practical effects are almost laughably poor. All the good will – or should that be ill will? – generated by the creepy atmosphere, creative use of sets and very effective use of light, sound, and even smell, is ruined by the almost embarrassingly fake model ghouls. They’re only glimpsed for a second, in true horror fashion, but even that brief exposure highlights them as something more suited to a funfair ghost train than a professional long-running West End production. Parts of the show that involve actors in costume are infinitely more effective.
Similarly, each story keeps very strictly to the same formula, and that becomes repetitive – until the climax, that is, when the pattern changes and everything gets much more interesting. Ghost Stories does a remarkably good job of pulling everything together for an ending which boasts genuine frights and an unsettling conclusion that will linger in your thoughts long after the curtain falls, like any good ghost story should.
It should also be noted that your mileage may vary depending on the audience you get on any particular night. Stuck next to a group of teenagers who are intent on spoiling the atmosphere at every given opportunity is not ideal for immersing yourself in the illusion. Ghost Stories is clearly designed to provoke screams and reaction from the audience, but the extent to which this happens can have a detrimental effect on the experience. Luck of the draw, on that one.
Ghost Stories is undoubtedly a fun way to spend an evening, and some of the jump scares will inevitably get you, but it’s a show that lacks that sense of creeping terror that horror aficionados might look for.
The climax is terrific, though, and it would take frustratingly little to tweak this into an enduring horror production like The Woman in Black. As it stands, it’s just a bit of fun. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, even if, despite the marketing campaign, you shouldn’t have any trouble sleeping afterwards.
Performed on Tuesday 27 January 2015 at the Arts Theatre in Leicester Square, London.
> Buy tickets on the official website.
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