In 1990, Ghost stole audience’s hearts with its suspenseful plot, heart-breaking love story, supernatural elements, and tremendously talented cast. Twenty-one years later, the movie has inspired a musical version. Musical adaptations can go horribly wrong—and there have been an abundance of such musicals in recent years—but Ghost: The Musical did something incredibly right: Bruce Joel Rubin, who wrote the original award-winning screenplay, also wrote the script and lyrics for the musical.
Carla R. Stewart, who portrays Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg in the movie), says that Rubin was a brilliant choice, because he produced a “musical that is very close to the movie that audiences know and love. The nature of the movie is very similar to the musical, but I think the music adds even more depth,” she says. “It’s one of those shockingly, unbelievable things to have pulled off, especially with all the illusions.”
In part, those impressive illusions are created through elaborate lighting (which is probably why Ghost was nominated for a Tony in Best Lighting Design). Stewart explains that this was one of the major challenges.
“I’m amazed by this musical, because of all the illusions that we have to pull of before people’s eyes,” she says. “We don’t have the computer graphics that they had on film. I don’t know how we do it, but we do it every night, and it will wow audiences.”
Ghost is filled with more than extraordinary illusions. The show revolves around the familiar love story of Sam Wheat (played by Steven Grant Douglas) and Molly Jensen (Katie Postotnik), even including Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore’s steamy pottery wheel scene. Rubin wanted to make the musical as true to the movie as possible, while bringing out elements that would make it more theatrical, such as Whoopi Goldberg’s character Oda Mae.
Stewart describes Oda Mae as a very strong presence in the show. “She’s very [instrumental] to the plot. Without her, Sam wouldn’t have been able to communicate with Molly and ultimately save her and have that final moment to tell her how much he loves her,” she says. “She represents comic relief to a show that is essentially an emotional roller coaster. You need to breathe every once in a while because there are pretty serious moments in this musical. Oda Mae helps you do that, if just for a little bit.”
Part of Oda Mae’s complexity (and what makes audiences love her) stems from her unethical behavior: in the movie she was a phony psychic. Audiences are touched by her transformation from a con artist to a trustworthy and brave friend.
When asked about Oda Mae’s fraudulence in the movie, Stewart laughs, confirming, “In the musical, it’s just the same. She doesn’t realize she actually has abilities. In her first séance with Mr. Santiago, she’s just doing her show normally. Sam is in such a state of disbelief after his death that he’s talking out loud, and he realizes that Oda Mae can hear him. There’s the same revelation as in the movie, so nothing has really changed there.”
Whoopi Goldberg won an Academy Award for her performance as Oda Mae in Ghost, but Stewart says that she wanted to put her own spin on the character.
“I made an effort not to go back and look at the movie,” Stewart admits. “I thought I was going to, because you want to use all the tools and references you can, but when I realized that the musical was verbatim, line for line, I didn’t use the movie for inspiration, because I didn’t want to be a carbon copy of Whoopi Goldberg. I wanted to bring something fresh to the character. I also had the privilege of seeing Ghost on Broadway, so that was enough to create my own character.”
Stewart says that she has a lot of fun performing in Ghost. “The music is very pop/rock—Oda Mae sings some Gospel, too,” she says. “There’s something for everyone. I mean it’s not for small children, but young teens up to grandparents, definitely. It’s a love story, but there’s tons of action, thrills, suspense and comedy. There are so many elements and it’s truly a fantastic show.”
Ghost runs at the Peabody Opera House (1400 Market) from March 25 to March 30. For show times or to purchase tickets, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-499-7600.
