Production Review – The Ghost Train
Written by Arnold Ridley
Presented by St John’s Players February 2011
Directed by Kieron Toner
Guaranteed to put ‘bums on seats’ this famous play has been around since 1925, has been performed by hundreds of amateur companies down the year and been made into a film. Nowadays it has a ‘classic’ status but—does it stand the test of time? The play these days has obvious weaknesses and it is therefore important to capture the atmosphere and way of life of its time and setting. A steam train, ghosts, lonely isolated stations, a cold night, dead bodies and a group of disparate characters provide the basis for intrigue.  The language is ‘quaint’ even in anger which, unfortunately, at times brought laughter in inappropriate places.
The set design by Graham Royston and company was excellent depicting a cold and cheerless waiting room with working gas lamps, a ticket office complete with hatch and a miserable fire. Graham Royston’s sound and lighting effects produced just the right atmosphere which at times really did have the audience on the edge of their seats. When the train came it actually did feel like it was thundering across the stage.
Director Kieron Toner found a good strong cast and performances were uniformly good with one or two individuals standing out. A commanding performance by George Sigsworth as Richard Winthrop set the acting level and Kathy Cutmore as Richard’s wife Elsie was excellent, even when not part of the action she remained totally involved. Prue Harrison as Julia Price, the disturbed runaway who turns out to be one of the villains also had complete control over her role and Rosemary Eason as the prissy Miss Bourne was a treat. Tom Bonser as Teddie Deakin—the idiot who, of course, turns out to be the hero detective—caught the style well but I could have done without the seemingly everlasting cigarette.
All other parts were well played: Dean Ward and Rachel Brown as the newly married couple were believable. Martin Hunt as the country yokel station master nicely mysterious; although I couldn’t quite make out which regional accent he was using (I know it was referred to as Cornish but I have my doubts). Simon Hirst as Herbert Price was a baddie if I ever saw one and Tony Champion as Dr Sterling did a good job of aiding and abetting the Price brother and sister in their nefarious activities. Kieron Toner as Jackson got the task of the actor who comes on for the last two pages. Always a difficult thing to do but with his usual stage presence Kieron manage it with aplomb.
Did this company make the play work? I think they pulled it off well, in the main making us believe in the characters and situations. The excellent ‘in period’ costumes by Rosemary Eason and Rachel Brown, the properties, set design and sound and lighting effects all contributed to a fun and atmospheric evening’s entertainment.
Production photos can be seen on the group’s website.
Reviewed by Julie Petrucci
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