Two girls, an astronomer and a bear. Four students, two pianos, a saxophone, a drum and an accordion.
After a year of preparation, student director Brayden Plumb and the American River College Theater Department brings to the campus the “Ghost Quartet” written by Dave Malloy. This production uniquely differs from other musicals in that it is a theatrical song cycle, meaning that the original production focused mainly on the storytelling and music. The audience follows four different storylines that intertwine slowly, in no particular order that requires focus and pondering as they watch.
“We break the fourth wall quite a bit as we shift between storytelling and playing characters,” said Plumb, who plays the astronomer.
For those that are not familiar with the “Ghost Quartet”, the plot may seem confusing and that is almost inevitable. It is a plot that explores different depths of love, the soul of a human and the devilish charm of whiskey with a total of 23 songs throughout the show.
The music performed by the actors is an impactful portion of the production as we traverse through the stories with pianos, percussions and a saxophone. Whether the scene is dramatic, funny or heartwarming, those emotions are captured through the notes played by the cast.
While originally Dave Melloy intended the music to be played solely by the cello, Plumb and band director Nick Roten transposed the music to be played by piano and saxophone.
“We had to work with the instruments we had and we found that it does all flow together,” said Plumb.
The production also shares the vocals of all four cast members in solo numbers and group songs. Ranging from highs and lows, to screams and shouting, it all immerses viewers into the environment and emotions at that current moment.
This particular cast feeds off of audiences’ reactions and participation. During the show cast members share their instruments and offer to dance with audience members. Allowing an intimate connection and creating an interactive environment for the viewers.
“I hope this challenges audience members’ perception of ‘musical theatre’ as it is a beautiful and unique spectacle,” said Roten, who plays the bear.
The Ghost Quartet is a fun, chaotic show that brings to life a different form of musical theatre. It allows the audience to pick up on cues and to piece stories together in a constructive way. What was initially a complex idea by Plumb, turned out to be a successful production by American River College—consistently having sold out shows.
“This has been a transformative experience that required us to trust each other and to trust the music,” said Hannah Hurst, vocal director.
The play runs for two hours with a 15 minute intermission. For more information, updates can be found on the American River Theater website along with future productions.
