Any Broadway fan knows that every hit movie is turned into a musical these days so it was only a matter of time before the massive hit 1990’s Ghost got the musical treatment. In a way I think it’s a bit of a shame because I’ve seen it twice now and both times I wish it was a straight play and not a musical. Alas, we have Ghost: The Musical, and it is currently being put on at Heritage Theatre in Perry. It is not a perfect production but worth supporting a company trying to push themselves and grow beyond safe, expected material.

If you have seen the movie the plot for this adaptation is basically scene-for-scene the same with of course songs added in. It tells the story of a couple, Sam and Molly, who are separated when he is murdered in a violent attack. Being a victim of a crime, however, Sam stays on Earth to try and help his wife and to make sure the murderer is caught and punished. Helping him in this goal is a medium named Oda Mae Brown, who is memorably played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film (she won an Oscar for the role.)

At Heritage Ghost is directed by Breanne and W. Derek Hendricks, and I admire the visual effects they develop throughout the show with lighting designer Chris Ward and projections that helped create the alternate realities needed for a ghost and human interactions (strobe lights are used as well as fog and walls made out of fabric.)

I also really enjoyed the acting with Luke Merkley and Hannah Atkinson having nice chemistry together as Sam and Molly respectively with them both being able to pull off the more emotional sections. Jazmine Peterson steals the show as Oda Mae with all the personality and humor one could bring to the character. Sam Bakker is appropriately skeevy as the villainous Carl.

The downside to the production is the singing. Part of it is probably opening night jitters but the singing wasn’t as accomplished as most of the performances at Heritage are. I know they all did their best, but they can keep on working on that aspect to improve over the run. It doesn’t help that the songs themselves are bland and outside of “Unchained Melody” completely forgettable. Like I said, I wish it was a straight play instead of a musical but that’s just me.

Even with flaws I’m still glad I saw Ghost: The Musical at Heritage Theatre. It’s a theater that is everything I could ask for in a community theatrical company, and I’m glad they keep challenging themselves with less-performed works like this. With the romantic themes it would make a good date night and the tickets are very affordable. It is playing through Oct 25th and tickets can be purchased here.

Ghost: The Musical has music and lyrics by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard with lyrics and book by Bruce Joel Rubin. It is based on the 1990 film with a script from Rubin who won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for his work. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2012

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