When I first sat down in the Hayes Theatre, watching the performers playfully improvise to keep us entertained while a technical problem delayed the start, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.
The stage was covered with Persian rugs and dressed in various antique furniture, cameras, and lamps. I knew there would be music. I knew there would be a blackout sequence (I read the program warnings), and I knew there would be no interval. But even when it was all over, and the audience leapt out of their seats for a standing ovation, I still wasn’t quite sure what I’d just experienced.
The best way to describe Ghost Quartet might be as a haunting, quirky, and inventive musical dreamscape. Directed by Brandon Pape, Antipodes Theatre’s production of Dave Malloy’s Ghost Quartet is like a fusion of The Twilight Zone and One Thousand and One Nights.
I must admit, I found the plot a little hard to follow initially, but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It involved sisters, an astronomer, the stories we tell each other, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk. Ultimately, I decided to simply let go and immerse myself in the musical kaleidoscope. By the end of the production, the themes of ghosts, memory, and the passing down of stories across generations were conveyed in a surprising, effective, and powerful way.
The lighting design by Sidney Younger was beautiful and haunting, while the sound design by Evan Drill was outstanding. Antipodes’ actual ‘Ghost Quartet,’ led by musical director David Butler, constantly surprised me with their range, talent, and humour. They were all unique individuals and yet perfectly harmonious, interacting well with the audience in a way that kept the whole theatre engaged.
Hany Lee, Willow Sizer, David Butler, and Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward are all incredibly talented actor-musicians, each covering various musical styles and instruments while delivering strong individual and collective performances. There is one fifteen-minute sequence where you’ll find yourself wondering, long after the show, how they could keep changing styles and instruments so flawlessly.
Skipping an interval was a wise choice, as pausing the rollercoaster of this production would disrupt the show’s momentum and wake us all up from a musical trance. Like waking from a dream, returning to the same place is impossible once the spell is broken. It didn’t seem to be a problem. Despite the delayed start and extra pre-show drinks, I didn’t notice anyone leaving to miss any part of the show. This is a show I would wholeheartedly recommend experiencing—perhaps more than once.
Ghost Quartet by the Antipodes Theatre Co. is playing at the Hayes Theatre in Potts Point, Sydney, until the 1st of February 2025. To book tickets to Ghost Quartet, please visit https://hayestheatre.com.au/event/ghost-quartet/
Photographer: Angel Legas / 3 Fates Media
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
