★★★★★
This autumn, an audacious troupe of vaudeville performers are haunting Southwark Playhouse. Serving up some spooky goofs (or goofy spooks?), Tall Stories presents The Canterville Ghost. Inspired, in part, by Oscar Wilde’s short story of the same name, this genial dramatization is quite the cabaret. And it’s a little bit ghoulish—‘tis the season.
Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell, as co-writers and directors, snip away at Wilde’s tale and splice it with on-theme variety acts. Led by their compere, an illusionist, a psychic and a comedian take to the stage. Although it doesn’t set out to scare, The Canterville Ghost is still a Halloween delight. It’s much more treat than trick.
The Victorian heyday of music hall is conjured by our four performers through their guises and some period-esque staging—from an era of theatre that time forgot. Like the hazy stage lights and fun pyrotechnics, this show’s charm factor lights up the room. Shining equally bright are the comical, musical, and mystical quartet: Matt Jopling, Katie Tranter, Callum Patrick Hughes and Steve Watts.
In the competitive world of theatre, the expression ‘multi-talented’ can be received as the highest compliment. But, to pay these performers this compliment feels like an understatement. Their talents are immense. Their spirit is laced with a poisonous sense of humour. Each add something spectacular to this memorable evening of entertainment, and are wholeheartedly met with oohs, ahhs and laughs.
Cheap slapstick and dirty jokes are layered up with wry satire. Self-referential to the bone, the biggest laughs come when the curtain is pulled back or the smoke is cleared.
But The Canterville Ghost is by no means one-note; there are bewitching moments of song, or stillness. And, from the shadows, there creeps a beguiling sadness—when the storytelling and cabaret are no longer cleaved in separate halves.
The Canterville Ghost is haunting Southwark Playhouse until Saturday 5th November.
Words by Jessica Saunders
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