The Ghost Train
July 2022
Written by Arnold Ridley OBE
Directed by Jo Godman
Cast List (in order of appearance)
Saul Hodgkin
John Sansom
Elsie Winthrop
Kerry Bailey
Richard Winthrop
Alan Godman
Charles Murdock
Luke Bailey
Peggy Murdock
Amy Metcalfe
Miss Bourne
Linda Brown
Teddie Deakin
Richie Bassett
Julia Price
Amanda Miller
Herbert Price
Larry Davies
Dr John Sterling
Neil Balderston
Jackson
Matt Micallef
Constable Smith
Hugh Bailey
Stage Manager
Hugh Bailey
Set Construction
Joanna Godman, Hugh Bailey, Kerry Bailey,
Geoff Bolden, Linda Brown, Larry Davis, Gerry Flanagan, Darren Hammock, Janine Hewlett,
Brian Redding, Amanda Miller, and John Sansom
Stage Crew
Matt Micallef and Larry Davis
Prompt
Cara Micallef
Props
Matt Micallef
Lights
Janine Hewlett
Sound
Geoff Bolden
Costumes
Claire Feekings, Joanna Godman and cast members
NODA Review
21st July 2022
A group of passengers are left stranded at a remote railway station, facing the prospect of a night in the waiting room. But when the old station master, Saul, warns them about the ghost train that runs the tracks after dark, the evening starts to take one chilling turn after another. A ghostly driver, sudden deaths and a travelling parrot make this 1920s thriller an unnervingly hilarious exploration of our belief in the supernatural.
Passengers stranded here for the night are argumentative Richard Winthrop (Alan Godman) and his wife, Elsie (Kerry Bailey), working up to a divorce, expertly played by both – good to see Alan not acting the fool, or singing – perfectly paired. As are the newly married Peggy (Amy Metcalfe) and Charles (Luke Bailey), both convincing in their parts. And an elderly spinster, Miss Bourne (Linda Brown), complete with caged bird, a lovely part that sleeps throughout having drunk too much brandy. All having missed their connection due to some stupid ass pulling the communication cord; that silly ass is Teddie (Richie Bassett), because his hat had blown off. He is outrageously funny in this character – extremely irritating. Great, until the reason for it all is revealed in Act Two. Saul (John Sansom) excels as the old station master warning all of them of the spectral dangers to be faced if the passengers stay in the haunted station overnight and produces a very authentic accent and perfectly delivered speeches. Julia Price (Amanda Miller) acted a difficult part, going through a gambit of mood swings. This takes great acting ability, which she clearly has. Supporting parts Dr Sterling (Neil Balderston) and Herbert Price (Larry Davis), smaller parts but gave great support. This cast, along with Sound (Geoff Bolden), Lighting (Janine Hewlett), Stage Manager (Hugh Bailey), Prompt (Cara Micallef) and Props/stagecrew (Matt Micallef), your stage craft showed immensely to keep this Ghost Train on the rails. With a comedy thriller like The Ghost Train, it must be a difficult choice to know whether to play up the comedy or the thrills, and Joanna Godman (Director) has endeavoured to do both with great success. We need more Directorship from Joanna in the future. Joanna chose her cast carefully and they all were all high calibre. Joanna, this Ghost Train certainly was on the tracks – an extremely well-directed piece of theatre.
Gordon Harris,
NODA SE District 5/6
A group of passengers are left stranded at a remote railway station, facing the prospect of a night in the waiting room. But when the old station master, Saul, warns them about the ghost train that runs the tracks after dark, the evening starts to take one chilling turn after another. A ghostly driver, sudden deaths and a travelling parrot make this 1920s thriller an unnervingly hilarious exploration of our belief in the supernatural.
Passengers stranded here for the night are argumentative Richard Winthrop (Alan Godman) and his wife, Elsie (Kerry Bailey), working up to a divorce, expertly played by both – good to see Alan not acting the fool, or singing – perfectly paired. As are the newly married Peggy (Amy Metcalfe) and Charles (Luke Bailey), both convincing in their parts. And an elderly spinster, Miss Bourne (Linda Brown), complete with caged bird, a lovely part that sleeps throughout having drunk too much brandy. All having missed their connection due to some stupid ass pulling the communication cord; that silly ass is Teddie (Richie Bassett), because his hat had blown off. He is outrageously funny in this character – extremely irritating. Great, until the reason for it all is revealed in Act Two. Saul (John Sansom) excels as the old station master warning all of them of the spectral dangers to be faced if the passengers stay in the haunted station overnight and produces a very authentic accent and perfectly delivered speeches. Julia Price (Amanda Miller) acted a difficult part, going through a gambit of mood swings. This takes great acting ability, which she clearly has. Supporting parts Dr Sterling (Neil Balderston) and Herbert Price (Larry Davis), smaller parts but gave great support. This cast, along with Sound (Geoff Bolden), Lighting (Janine Hewlett), Stage Manager (Hugh Bailey), Prompt (Cara Micallef) and Props/stagecrew (Matt Micallef), your stage craft showed immensely to keep this Ghost Train on the rails. With a comedy thriller like The Ghost Train, it must be a difficult choice to know whether to play up the comedy or the thrills, and Joanna Godman (Director) has endeavoured to do both with great success. We need more Directorship from Joanna in the future. Joanna chose her cast carefully and they all were all high calibre. Joanna, this Ghost Train certainly was on the tracks – an extremely well-directed piece of theatre.
Gordon Harris,
NODA SE District 5/6
One evening, a party of assorted railway travellers find themselves stranded in the waiting room of an isolated country station thanks to the antics of another passenger. The stationmaster tries to persuade them to leave the site as he is closing the station for the night but they refuse to leave, citing the lack of alternative accommodation for several miles around. He warns them of the supernatural danger of a spectral old train, the ghost of one that was fatally wrecked several years before, that sometimes haunts the line at night, bringing death to all who set eyes upon it. Incredulous of his story, they refuse to leave, and he departs leaving them facing a night at the station. The interaction between the passengers, representing a cross-section of English 1920s and 1930s society, unfolds as the night takes an unexpected turn.