REVIEW: The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley (From Stroud News and Journal)

REVIEW: The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley

The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley Cotswold Playhouse Saturday, October 22

FROM the sounds and smoke of a steam train arriving in bleakest midwinter to the classic denouement of mysterious happenings at a remote Cornish station, The Ghost Train kept its audience enthralled.

Indeed, they loved it. Full marks to first-time director Tim Howard and his technical crew for the care taken to maintain both atmosphere and suspense.

Visually, the show was stunning. The publicity photographs from the Avon Valley Railway, the costumes and an authentic waiting room with its noisy ticket window, feeble fire and nostalgic posters took us straight back to the 1920s and a different culture.

Lighting and sound were spot on cue, with three spine-chilling blackouts. The cast successfully combined a team of hardy veterans and talented novices.

Carolyn Dolan made the most of the tipsy spinster, and her closing remark raised the biggest laugh of the show.

Other parts were competently played and the two couples nicely contrasted, but it was left to the two bright young things to open up the action, as they revealed their strange secrets.

Richard Loftus and Sarah Davis-Berry promise much hope for the future - they go straight into rehearsals as Peter Pan and Wendy for the Cotswold Players' January musical. Don't miss it.