Audiences are experiencing extreme emotions during Ghost The Musical at the Chemainus Theatre and so are the actors themselves.
That’s a good thing. Halfway through its summer run that goes until Aug. 27, the production is captivating people for its remarkable sentiments and superb acting.
There has seldom been a show at the theatre since it’s opened that’s garnered such a response, even though the numbers in attendance are lagging a bit behind box-office projections. Most everyone who’s seen it has raved about it; it’s just a matter of those who haven’t to make sure they book their seats soon for the remaining weeks.
The leads in the show like Jacob Woike (Sam Wheat), Jennie Neumann (Molly Jensen) and Madeleine Eddy (Oda Mae Brown) plus the terrific supporting cast are setting the tone with such quality performances it almost defies description.
Related story: Human spirit arises in Ghost The Musical
The actors are getting caught up in it, taking those heartfelt feelings into their roles during every show.
“I knew it was going to be a big emotional journey for me to do the show,” confided Neumann. “There’s a lot she (Molly) goes through. It’s nice for Molly. You always wish you had connections with that person who’s passed on.
“For me what’s been really nice is there’s such a release at the end of the show, even though there’s so much grief in it.”
Assuming the iconic Whoopi Goldberg role has been right up Eddy’s alley. She’s provided most of the comic relief to the tearjerker aspect of the show and is lovin’ every minute of it.
“For this role, I get to show many facets of myself and I do relate to Oda Mae,” said Eddy.
“In my career, I’ve played the ingenue, a lot of serious roles in film, television and theatre. It’s probably the character in my career I’m most like. She’s probably a little more harsh. She’s a hustler, she knows what she wants.”
The feedback on this show has been entirely positive and the actors are even becoming recognizable to the public around the region.
“For me, that’s been really special,” said Neumann. “I was at Save-On-Foods in Ladysmith and someone said said they saw the show and how wonderful it was. That’s been lovely for us to get to connect to audiences and get that feedback. That’s something that’s been amazing, people in the community approaching you and saying they saw the show.”
During the first week back in June, a visiting marching band of high school students from Calgary saw the show and were totally enthralled.
“You never know how students are going to take things,” reasoned Neumann. “They were in it from the get-go.”
“I was nervous about it being students,” confided Eddy.
She had a moment placing herself back at that age and all was good.
The students were thrilled to meet the cast members afterwards to chat and ask questions.
The physical reactions from audiences, both larger and smaller, have typically been all over the map. Some nights are quieter than others, but “all the audiences have been really lovely,” said Eddy.
“I always find an audience to be another scene partner for myself,” noted Neumann. “You do feel like there’s another person in that journey with you.”
“I like to hear the weird laughter,” said Eddy of audience response. “I do pay attention. But definitely I hear them the most at the end when Molly says goodbye to Sam.”
“It is a beautiful moment at the end of the show because the audience is with you,” Neumann added.
The mix of familiarity and newcomers to the story is interesting, too, for the cast members.
“A lot of people have such a memory of the movie and then there’s those who’ve never see the movie,” observed Neumann.
Neumann and Eddy had not previously met before the show, but have become fast friends. It’s almost like part of a mutual admiration society that’s developed among the cast.
“I’m also a new fan of all of you,” said Eddy. “I’m generally so impressed – new friendships and a new fan of all these people.”
The cast just seemed to click from the start of rehearsals and it’s carried through onto the stage.
“There’s not one person in the cast I don’t get along with,” said Eddy. “Every single person loves what they do. It’s such a welcoming group. Everybody’s so kind.”
“The thing that’s really nice about working here is everybody’s from out-of-town,” Neumann pointed out. “You get to form these really cool connections.”
That includes the crew and stage management and “that doesn’t really happen in every show,” she added.
Neumann hasn’t appeared in a performance at the theatre for more than a decade since Countryside Christmas in 2011 and this is Eddy’s first time in Chemainus. Both said they’d love to return in the future.
They’ve enjoyed being housed in the community and getting out to see some of the sites around the region during their days off on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“It definitely feels like you’re almost at summer camp,” enthused Neumann.
“As soon as I got here, the vibes were so beautiful and welcoming,” observed Eddy.
And the actors are happy to inject their expertise into this memorable production that’s giving people considerable cause for reflection.
There’s a lot to love about the show and a major part of its strength is the comedy that provides balance. “It’s not just heavy the entire time,” said Neumann.
“It all ends on such a hopeful moment. That’s what I love about it.”
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don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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