The Ghost Train

This is a comedy mystery drama was written by William Arnold Ridley in 1923, the professional actor we all know so well for the wonderful role of Private Godfrey in ‘Dad’s Army’.

Always a warm welcome from BLODS members and a special one from the Station Master in his smart grey uniform, round spectacles, green flag in hand, ‘20’s music playing in the background, the open friendly bar and raffle table. An immersive feel the moment I walked into the hall on the central red carpet. I was in the panelled waiting room at Fal Vale Station. Posters on the walls, half glass door leading into a back room, an angled  armchair one side, table and bench centre, apple crates piled up, an ornate tiled fireplace with shelf above, working light fittings, angled hatch with sharp working blind as ticket office, a door leading to the platform and to the side an opaque glass panelled window with a cushioned bench for two beneath. As the play commences this room is looking bleak and cold not the sort of place one would wish to spend the night. This vision was created and built by Mike Neeson with Linda Cruttenden in charge of set dressing and props to give the perfect atmosphere of the drama.

It is dark and raining, not a night you wish to be out in when  total strangers are thrown together. Richard & Elsie Winthrop with obvious marital troubles, young newlyweds Charlie & Peggy Murdoch, spinster Miss Bourne and her birdcage, plus Teddy Deakin a loud young man who caused the travellers chaos to miss their connection and to find themselves with a variety of luggage stranded until the next available train can take them onwards. After a ghostly tale, a legend of supernatural events, hauntings and spirits from the wreckage of a past train crash, told by station master Saul Hodgkins he then leaves them to wait in the uncomfortable room. Tension rises, bodies appear and disappear, doors lock, tempers fray with Teddy the talkative, full of gusto trying hard to lighten and frighten. The Winthrops are not on good terms  - Richard controlling and Elsie a feminist who will not be talked down. The young Murdochs are obviously upset that their honeymoon night should be in such a place. Miss Bourne is a nervous wreck who swigs the whole flask of brandy belonging to Teddy, to calm her down and leads her to take a long nap. Two further strangers appear from the dark and rain, a young bedraggled mysterious disturbed girl Julia Price who is being pursued by John Sterling supposedly her Doctor. Plenty of gripping tension and physical action holding the audience in suspense the final revelation Deakin is really a Government Agent and this is a set up to trap gun running criminals. A great twist. Quarrels are patched, the criminals caught and all ends well.

David Allen certainly became a convincing Station Master fooling us all. Luke Morphew was the overbearing, loud controlling husband, pairing well with Fiona Giles, a strong character herself, who was prepared to stand up to his behaviour and agree to try again by the finale. Louise Holland was the shy, almost embarrassed newlywed Peggy, faced with a disappointing situation and was well paired with Alfie Saunters as Charles Murdoch, who wanted to protect his new wife. Making a BLODS debut was versatile Henry Robertson who certainly stole much of the comedy action, tall, nattily dressed, tipped trilby with a definite twinkle, fooled us as Teddy who was representing the long arm of the law. Jo Doyle beautifully characterised a bewildered and then tipsy Miss Bourne who spent some considerable time under a blanket. Evangeline Clifford as Julia Price put us off the scent, and appeared as the scared young woman who was actually a hardened criminal -  a convincing transition. Keith Robertson was her accomplice supposed Doctor John Sterling and to complete the cast was Sam Kavakli as Jackson, Deakin’s sidekick. With Simon’s attention to detail direction, assisted by Amber, the special effects, period costuming from Sophia Lefevre White, SM Claire Wilson this was a suspense all the way woven with humour, a truly immersive experience.

The comprehensive and steam train themed programme was designed by Jo Doyle and Henri Hayler, with exciting collaboration with the Kent & East Sussex Railway a bonus, and plenty of exciting media coverage too.

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