The Ghost Train

This play is a comedy thriller, written in 1923 and takes place in a remote Cornish railway station waiting room in the 1920s during the late evening. It centres on 6 disparate characters all stranded at the station by the rather strange action of one of them. One of the characters, Teddie Deacon, pulled the communication cord causing the train to stop at a deserted station where no further trains would leave before the next morning. Teddie Deakin, played by Phil Osborn, was an aristocratic type, flippant to the point of exasperation always ready to remember a story from the past. Phil put everything into this role with his portrayal of this bumbling, self important character. Naturally there was a twist in the story, revealing Teddie to be a police officer investigating a suspected crime. There were no set changes required and the set itself was designed by Chris Wade, using 3D technology to extremely good effect. The station master, Saul Hodgkin, was played very convincingly by Denis Brogan who was first class in his interpretation and accent. He told the fable of the ghost train and the unfortunate results for those who had seen it. The newly weds, Charles and Peggy Murdock who were supposedly starting their honeymoon, were played by Christopher Steward and Emily Young. These two characters gradually became more important and assertive as the storyline developed. Richard Winthrop, played with great enthusiasm by Joseph James, was an arrogant, domineering character intent on imposing his will on the rest of the group and Joseph had a very good stage presence in this role. It transpired that Richard and his wife, Elsie, played by Sarah Harvey-Wade, were in the midst of marital problems with her declaring at every possible point that she was an independent woman quite capable of looking after herself.

Anne Lillie-Foster played a rather delicate spinster, Miss Bourne, very much a Miss Marples type. Her drunken antics, having consumed alcohol to prevent her fainting from shock were hilarious.

Gemma Cooper played Julia Price, a neurotic neighbour who claimed to have seen and heard the ghost train. Gemma was extravagant and convincing and commanded the stage very well.

The cast was completed by Nick Mason, playing her brother, Herbert Price, Kevin Roychowdhury as John Sterling, a doctor and Neil Arbon, as Inspector Jackson.

Helen Arbon was Stage Manager with Kerys Stephens in charge of lights and sound. Good sound effects ie thunder, trains passing, created by Peter Morris and lighting design by Joe Fawcett all helped to create the surreal, mysterious and decidedly spooky effect ! I liked Sara Knight’s choice of costumes for the cast-totally in keeping with the times but some good contrasts nevertheless.

This excellent production, ably directed by Neil and Helen Arbon, was gripping from the beginning, with very good acting from the talented cast.

Well done to everyone involved in any capacity. It was a most enjoyable evening

 

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