Eliza (Lizzy Burton-Wood) is a bit in love with Violet (Jack Carroll), her flatmate, but she has yet to find the courage to tell her so. And then an unfortunate late night, sobering up snack-making event ends in Eliza finding herself to be a ghost, joining the other ghosts in her flat. Will she live happily ever after life with these newfound friends (and songs)? Or will she finally gain the courage to tell Violet how she feels? Welcome to the comedy musical that is The Ghost Show.

The BATS Dome space is set in a typical flat. A couch sits centre stage with a lamp on one side and a small table filled with vodka bottles, a toaster, and spreads, meant to indicate a cramped Wellington flat kitchen. And while I personally despise couches in set design because they often anchor characters which leads to uninteresting staging, thankfully co-directors Olive Riordan and Viki Moananu create dynamic movements for the characters and the couch never feels like an anchor.

The lighting (Matilde Vadseth Fursholm) is used to create the distinct moods of the characters when in song and while they’re in the ‘real world’ in a way that is true to the show’s upbeat atmosphere. Particularly with Eliza, she initially resists singing and doesn’t want to participate as indicated when certain spotlights appear on the stage and Burton-Wood must travel to stand in them, which is not only funny but manages to give lighting some character – something you don’t often see. Usually, lighting blends in and isn’t meant to stand out but The Ghost Show does anything but blend in.

The script by Burton-Wood, Riordan and Daisey Vahey Bourne is snappy and witty. Narratively, it hits all the usual marks but ends rather unusually (I won’t spoil what happens!). Although I don’t quite understand how Billy (Josie Eastwood), the American cowboy ghost, died on the land the house was built on after 1603 when his love stole his truck… Something doesn’t quite add up here, but I’m willing to forgive it and move on with the show.

Even though Eliza and Violet are the same gender, the show isn’t asking whether or not Violet is queer. The show instead focuses on Eliza getting over the very scary thing of telling someone you like them, like-like them, love them for the first time: something everyone can relate to. It’s so good to see positive queer stories on stage. I hope we can see more of them in the future.

It would be misleading to say any of the actors are soon to have a career in the music industry, but they can all sing. The songs themselves are a standout, all original, composed and written by Burton-Wood and Riordan, some of them touching, some of them super fun, but all servicing the show and giving their audience a great time.

All the actors of the seven-member cast do a fabulous job. Special mention goes to the charming Jak Mitchell who plays young camp Freddie Mercury look-alike ghost Cosmo who manages to steal my heart, and Angela Pelham as Scary, the murdered bride ghost, who is constantly twitching throughout the show and doesn’t break focus from her character.

The Ghost Show is solid. Everyone who worked on this show should be proud. I hope to see this show have another season soon so more of my musical-loving queer friends can see it. I’m sure everyone, regardless of where you sit on the sexuality spectrum, will enjoy this show. 

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