REVIEW: Classic Ghosts at the Everyman, Cheltenham
Classic Ghosts at Everyman
It was great to see two veteran actors treading the boards in an evening featuring two classic ghost stories.
Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad was the first tale and is the most popular ghost story from a collection by M.R. James. Set beside the sea in a small hotel it tells the story of the rather fussy Professor Parkins, played by Jack Shepherd, who arrives for a short golfing holiday with Colonel Wilson (Terence Hardiman). While walking among ancient ruins he discovers a small whistle. Unbeknown to him this releases a supernatural power over which he has no control,and his holiday turns into something he would rather not remember.
The Signalman is based on a short story by Charles Dickens. A lonely railway worker (Jack Shepherd) spends his nights overseeing a secluded section of the railway. A rather troubled individual, he proves to be a fascinating subject to a passing walker (Terence Hardiman) who visits him over a few evenings. Endeavoring to discover his past the two spark up a friendship, helped along by tea and cake. The consequences transpire to be tragic and secrets are eventually revealed.
The scenes throughout both plays are eerily portrayed with austere sets and haunting sounds and music that made me pull my cardigan around me a little more snuggly! While not terrifying, each story builds to a crescendo which has the audience jumping in their seats. You just don’t know when it is going to happen.
A wet January evening proved to be the perfect opportunity to view a good spine tingling production followed by a rather warming mug of hot chocolate!
Classic Ghosts runs until Saturday 25 January.
Explore Gloucestershire
22 January 2014
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