The Ghost Train
Review
A mysterious and ghostly tale
Actor/playwright Arnold Ridley was inspired to write "The Ghost Train" in 1923 after being stranded overnight at a railway station and he took just a week to complete this play. He is of course better known for playing the part of the aging Private Godfrey in the much loved British sitcom "Dad's Army". He continued to write and in 1982 was awarded the OBE for services to the theatre.
The drama is set in 1926 at an isolated Cornish railway station. Due to a dandy self-indulgent passenger pulling the emergency cord when his hat flew out of the train window, the group of passengers have missed the connection for their onward journeys. With no other options open to them the weary travellers are doomed to spend an uncomfortable night in the station waiting room. However, despite the stormy conditions outside the station master is intent on persuading them to leave and narrates an eerie tale of a ghostly train that haunts the line thundering through the station at midnight and dooming to death anyone who witnesses it!
James George directs the spooky tale and has his own fond childhood memories of the old Arthur Askey film of the same name. He not only directs but has also designed an extremely realistic period station waiting room and coupled with dramatic lighting/sound effects this production does not disappoint. The cast portray an eclectic mix that include newlyweds and an estranged couple. A convincing performance from Ben Counter as the station master Saul Hodgkin, admirably maintaining a strong Cornish accent throughout. In the minor supporting roles Jane Hartley impresses as the inebriated Miss Bourne and should also be congratulated for lying motionless on a hard table for such a considerable time! Simon Hardy gave an assured portrayal of Herbert Price, while that of his wife Julia Price was excellently played by the accomplished and skilful Gemma Valler. However the star of the show was Matthew Cooper taking the part of the unashamedly camp and charismatic character Teddie Deakin.
This acclaimed Portsmouth-based amateur theatrical group guarantee an impressive and varied selection of productions throughout the year which are well supported, as was this entertaining production.
Jill Lawrie - Remotegoat
I must confess to loving a good ghost story and so I was very much looking forward to settling in for the evening with this particular HumDrum production.
With beautifully atmospheric smoke filling the room, we are ensconced in an isolated 1920s train station waiting room on a stormy night.
The stationmaster - a suitably craggy performance from Ben Counter giving us probably the only bit of tension in the whole production - seems in a hurry to leave, but not before he has told the tale of the legendary ghost train that is said to pass through this very station and will appear again, tonight!
Although at times the storytelling lost pace somewhat due to lack of projection from some of the cast, Matthew Cooper’s comic timing and unfaltering delivery as dandy Teddie Deakin really helped drive the narrative on. Lara Hardwick's turn as newlywed Peggy Murdock was faultless and Gemma Valler showed her superb versatility as the seemingly hysterical Julia Price.
All in all there were some nice tricks and a couple of jumpy moments but in order to pull off the 'ghostly' elements of the story it needed more sense of anticipation and tension at times.
However, it was a perfect antidote to a cold and rainy evening and still a ripping good yarn!
Beth Porter - The News
