by Pam Valentine
Spirit Level, tells the story of a married couple, Jack and Susie Cameron, who are refused entry into heaven because Jack is an atheist. Instead, they return to their home as ghosts. At first, they delight in haunting their old cottage — particularly by scaring the estate agent as he shows potential buyers around. But when Simon and Felicity come to view the property, everything changes. Jack and Susie find themselves drawn into the young couple’s lives, and that’s where the real story begins.
Having never seen the play before, and with no knowledge of the script, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this production. After laughing several times at some wonderfully witty lines, my preconceived idea that this might be a serious or sombre play quickly disappeared.
The familiar Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) theme music set the mood perfectly before the curtain even rose. The set — a charming country cottage — was convincingly created, with homely furniture and plates lining the walls. It struck the right balance between being uncluttered yet filled with just enough objects for the ghosts to mischievously move around.
Dominic Holmes (Jack Cameron) and Christina Peak (Susie Cameron) shared excellent chemistry on stage. The audience instantly warmed to their playful and affectionate portrayal of the ghostly couple. Both handled the challenge of moving as “invisible” spirits with great skill — a tricky task that relies heavily on strong direction. The staging was seamless; at no point did the living characters appear to awkwardly dodge or misstep around the ghosts. It was clear that the cast knew their cues and that the director had established a clear and consistent vision. In a show like this, weak direction could easily shatter the illusion — but that was never the case here.
The young couple, Simon and Felicity — played by Dave Mills and Zoe Willis — provided the perfect grounding for the story. Their performances balanced warmth, sincerity, and gentle humour, helping to anchor the play’s more whimsical moments. They navigated the “can they see them or not?” staging with ease, keeping the audience engaged and the illusion intact throughout.
A special mention must go to Claire Parker and Alan Lowe, who played the mother and the estate agent. Though smaller roles, they frequently stole the show with their sharp timing and priceless reactions to the chaos unfolding around them. The “angel on the tree” scene with Alan will stay with me for a long time — it’s far too complicated to explain here, but anyone in the audience will know exactly what I’m talking about! Lastly, Amanda Glover always popped up exactly when you’d need her, perfect for the Guardian Angel, not to be confused with the one on top of the tree.
Overall, Spirit Level proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable production that drew the audience in from start to finish. Clever humour, light-hearted moments, and strong performances combined with assured direction brought this ghostly tale to life.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and straighten my pictures (again) — and find my key!
Reviewed by Emma T.
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