by Maureen Sullivan
It looks like Ad Lib is going to have an excellent 2025, with two of Shakespeare’s Roman plays planned for the summer and autumn (watch this website for more details coming soon!), but before that, our next show is Ghost Hunting: written not by Shakespeare, but me…..why?
A few years ago I wrote and directed ‘Bard in the Hand’, a comedy with Shakespeare as its central character, which proved very popular. I also got to put into practice my love of Shakespeare and enjoyment of writing as well as putting together a piece of theatre – the page to stage process is always fascinating. So I wrote a sequel, ‘Bard in the Sand’ which we were considering staging this month….until we fell foul of the problem inherent in working with such a talented group of actors: too many of them were already involved in other projects. They wanted to be involved….another time, when they weren’t so busy…..
So I had the choice of going ahead without the exact cast I wanted, or rescheduling. I chose the latter, with the blessing and agreement of the Ad Lib Steering Group. But those who could have committed still wanted a show….so I had to write one, around who I had, and those who said: ‘I still want to be involved but can I have a really small role please?’
I thought about another of my interests: the history of the Island and in particular the famous people who have lived here in the past. Supposing they could in some way come to life and interact with living Island residents – what would they say? From there, I developed the idea of a ghost hunter who pretends she can see and speak to the ghosts she says are all around, coupled with an ordinary man who actually can….and does. What would happen?
What might Queen Victoria want? George Carey, one time Lord Chamberlain, Governor of the Island and builder of Carey’s Mansion in Carisbrooke Castle? And of course, patron to Shakespeare – did The Bard ever come to the Isle of Wight? And what of the party-loving Prince Regent (George IV) at Northwood House? Then someone mentioned the less palatable history of witch-hunting….
So Ghost Hunting is a mix of actual documented history; what may have happened (without stretching the boundaries of what we know) and my and the actors’ interpretation of some of the notable past residents of the Island. Along with lots of comedy, much of which I have to admit comes not just from the script but from the amazing performers who are bringing these characters to life. Charles Dickens reading to a very bored Victoria; Shakespeare, Dickens and Keats arguing over whose works are most popular; Isabella de Fortibus’s certainty that the Isle of Wight is rightfully still hers (King Arwald begs to differ…and then there’s Cadwalla…) – and of course Charles I’s difficulties in keeping his head…..
All of which adds up to a hugely entertaining play which will be staged at Northwood House on 30th and 31st January (book at Ad Lib Theatre presents "Ghost Hunting" (Comedy Play) - Northwood House) and on 1st and 2nd February at Bembridge Village Hall (book at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ad-lib-theatre)
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