Part Shakespearean farce, part supernatural spoof, Shakespeare Ghostbusters at the Goodwood Theatre delivers a mashup of Elizabethan prose and 1980s paranormal pop culture that had the Adelaide Fringe audience roaring with laughter. Directed by Rob Lloyd and co-produced with Cassandra Hart, this genre-bending production is a clever, high-energy homage to both the Bard and the beloved blockbuster.
At the heart of the chaos is Danny McGinlay as Dr. Peter Venkman, whose swaggering charm and deadpan delivery perfectly balance the show’s absurdity. McGinlay revels in the ornate language while never losing the essence of the wisecracking scientist. Rob Lloyd pulls double duty as director and as Dr. Ray Stantz, filling the role with excitement and boundless enthusiasm.
Elysia Janssen as the stoic Dr. Egon Splenger wrings dry humour from even the most convoluted Elizabethan phrases and has puns that will make you groan, while Zac Rose impressively juggles roles, from the grounded Winston Zeddemore to various incidental characters, showing great range and comic timing.
Rik Brown as the narrator and The Mayor is the glue of the piece, guiding the audience with a commanding voice and theatrical flair. Cassandra Hart shines in every role she takes on, especially as Dana Barrett and the eerie Library Ghost, seamlessly switching between sensuality, satire, and spectral terror. Her puppeteering work, alongside Donna Prince, adds a layer of delightful visual comedy, especially in the ghostly encounters.
Seon Williams is an absolute scene stealer as the multitasking Gozer and the sassy Janine Melnitz, earning big laughs with her sharp character work and costume-driven transformations. Corey Glamuzina is a chameleon, morphing from the twitchy Louis Tully to the smarmy Walter Peck with precision and comic timing to boot.
Technically, the show is tight. Sandro Falce’s sound design keeps the energy up with perfectly timed cues and the Elizabethan score with lutes and pan flutes to modern music during scene changes was a masterstroke. Patrick Slee’s lighting design cleverly balances theatricality and ghostly spectacle. The show is at it’s funniest when poking fun at it’s crafty/DIY nature, but to be honest the dog demon puppets were impressive!
Shakespeare Ghostbusters is a rollicking parody, blending sixteenth century rhyme with ghost traps in a way that somehow feels entirely natural. The cast’s commitment and joy are infectious, making this a Fringe must-see for fans of theatre, comedy, or just really good fun. Whether thou be a scholar of the Bard or a lover of slime, this is one haunting thou shalt not miss. Who wilt thou call?
Shakespeare Ghostbusters is on until Sunday, March 16. Get your tickets here.
**** Four stars