Review of Ghost Quartet at Elision Theater

If your craving a ghost story for the Halloween season, Ghost Quartet at Elision Theater in Crystal puts fairy tales and ghost stories to a beat.  Created by Dave Malloy, this song cycle is about love, death, whiskey, mashes of Grimms’ fairy tales, Edgar Allan Poe, Sondheim, Arabian Nights, Thelonious Monk, and more.

The quartet of Kellen Mcmillen, Quinn Shadko, Tristan Sima and Christine Wade will give you the chills. They take turns singing and playing instruments while jumping onto a chest or giving a sidelong glances at a fast quip for dramatic and comical effect. This ensemble brings its audience into their stories by handing out instruments.  You’ll find yourself playing the xylophone, shaking  maracas, rainsticks, cow bells, or hitting triangles or even hallow gourds; tapping cymbals, bango drums or even strumming washboards.

The theater space at the Elision sits its patrons in theater in the round, opening up its acoustics in full. The candles on each table are reminiscent of an Elton John concert, especially when the lights go out and you hear the ominous harmony from the voices of performers. Two keyboards help in creating the effect of a creaky door, or broken violin string, giving the audience the impression of ghosts in their midst.

You have to pay close attention to each of the twenty-five song numbers as the story does not follow a chronological order and includes musical forms such as gospel, folk ballads, honky-tonk anthems of heartbreak, electropop, and doo-wop.

The Astronomer is my favorite number. Its rooted in Poe's House of Usher. Roxie's father, Edgar, calls a family meeting to discuss his daughter, Roxie and her supposed imaginary friend - her sister, also named Rose, who died when Roxie was a baby. Roxie tells her parents that Rose has tried to convince her to die to join her in heaven.  Christine Wade plays the cute seven year old character and her performance is an absolute delight.  Wade has played in numerous Elision productions, her grace and charm on stage makes heads turn.

Delightful songs in this immersive show will have you smiling in no time at all. 

Upcoming performances are Monday, October 28th;

Tuesday, October 29th; Wednesday, October 30th; And Thursday, October 31st

Reserved Table Seating $35; Single General Admission Tickets $25, Discounts for local residents,

students, and industry colleagues for every performance.

There are special themes or events for each upcoming show:

• Monday, October 28th - Pay What You Can

• Tuesday, October 29th - Post-Show Talk Back Session

• Wednesday, October 30th - Post-Show Whiskey Tasting for 21+ - no additional charge

• Thursday, October 31st - Post-show Halloween party. Come in costume, get a free drink!