Review: Ghosts (Lyric Hammersmith)

Review by Daz Gale

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A contemporary take on an Ibsen classic heads to London as part of an exciting and versatile season for Lyric Hammersmith, directed by their Artistic Director Rachel O’Riordan, but can Gary Owen’s take on Ghosts leave a hauntingly good impression or are some things best left in the past?

First staged in 1882, this world premiere version of Ghosts by Gary Owen brings the story into the modern world, retaining the essence of the original while putting a new twist on the tale. It sees Helena attempting to escape the ghosts of her past and reclaim her legacy following the death of her high-flying husband. Things get a bit more complicated when her son Oz returns to the family home and sparks up a new relationship. As the most tightly kept secrets from the family’s past threaten to spill out, can the dead really stay dead?

As a play, Ghosts is steeped in history, with its fearless exploration of taboo subjects getting it condemned when it was first staged. More than a Century later, the shock value may have been lost as many will be familiar with the story, so it is bold of Gary Owen to attempt to rip up the rulebook with his reimagining, enabling a 21st Century audience to experience the story as if it is the first time, bringing something new to the mix while staying true to the original.

There is always the worry of how stories such as this will age and if the text itself may seem dated, paired with the worry of what might be lost by updating the dialogue and contemporising it. In Gary Owen’s skilled hands, this is not a worry at all. His writing is rich and layered throughout, thought-provoking and deeply affecting. With moments of comedy paving way to some truly horrific conversations, the shifting tone is always handled naturally to create consistently enthralling dialogue.

Ghosts is not the easiest of watches with themes of mental health, depression, abuse and coercive control all prevalent in the story. It takes a dark turn at several points and doesn’t attempt to hold back from the unflinching way it explores these topics. Though it may be uncomfortable, it always feels authentic in its portrayal, despite the larger-than-life nature of some of the characters. I found myself literally at the edge of my seat during some of the more harrowing conversations, not only moved by the emotion of the dialogue but in complete awe of the ingenious skill of the writing.

Having worked together on several previous productions, Gary Owen and Rachel O’Riordan are clearly a dream team, perfectly in tune to each other with the ability to elevate each other’s choices. Ghosts is an example of them at their finest with O’Riordan’s direction inspired to watch, ramping up the intensity of both Ibsen’s original text and Owen’s adaptation. Though it boasts a cast of five, the majority of the play features two or three characters at a time with O’Riordan’s careful and meticulous direction allowing for every small detail to be covered with extreme reactions allowing for both comedic and emotional responses.

Merle Hensel’s set design is another impressive element in this production of Ghosts with its mirrored backdrop allowing for a gorgeous, atmospheric effect, emulating the grey skies spoken of throughout the play. With little more than a couch on stage, there are no bells and whistles to distract from the intensity of the performances, but Hensel’s design provides a strong aesthetic to allow this to take place. Gorgeous lighting from Simsola Majekodunmi and a particularly effective use of sound design in the second Act from Donato Wharton ensures the atmosphere is felt in every aspect of this production, matching the perfection of both the writing and the direction.

The other aspect in Ghosts that elevates it to a God-tier level is that of its phenomenal cast. Victoria Smurfit leads the cast, enjoying the lion’s share of the stage time as the family matriarch, Helena. In a performance that sees the character go on differing stages of a journey and back again throughout, Smurfit showcases her versatility and capabilities as a performer in a watch that sees her battle through extreme emotions and have to give off a sense of bravado with her confidence - all the while battling the ghosts from her past looming in the background.

Rhashan Stone gives a strong portrayal of Andersen, sparring with Smurfit to create a fascinating dynamic that thrills whenever the warring pair are on stage together. Deka Walmsley has a couple of fleeting but memorable scenes as Jacob, while Patricia Allison mirrors the plight of Helena in her turn as Reggie, going on her own journey in the story and having to showcase extreme reactions and character growth in a relatively short space of time.

The standout performance belongs to Callum Scott Howells as Oz. His first appearance is comedy gold with Howells delivering a joyous masterclass in a performance bursting with charisma. Like the other characters, Oz goes on a journey and this is where Howells really comes into his own. His scenes in Act Two can prove a difficult watch, particularly when he faces an all time low in his story. Though Oz may be all over the place from one scene to the next, the one consistent is in Howells’ remarkable performance. A truly gifted actor, he may have blown audiences away with his talents in previous roles but in Ghosts, he has delivered a career-best. A truly sensational performance.

Updating classics can prove hit and miss as some recent reimaginings have shown. There is no doubt which category this reimagining of Ghosts falls into. Gary Owen’s take on the story is nothing short of genius, flawlessly realised and elevated by both Rachel O’Riordan’s fantastic direction and this truly incredible cast. A production as perfect as this doesn’t come around often and I find it hard to fault any aspect of it. When every element of a production works together as beautifully as this, true theatre magic is made, and Ghosts is as good as it gets. A production like this will stay with me for a long time, and don’t be surprised if it ends up haunting my list of favourites shows this year.

Ghosts plays at Lyric Hammersmith until 10th May. Tickets from https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/play/ghosts-tickets

Photos by Helen Murray