Image Credits:-
Many thanks to The Chameleons for kind permission to use their photos. Other images created in Book Brush using their photos or ones from Pixabay. Screenshots were taken by me, Allison Symes.
I was intrigued when I heard The Chameleon Theatre Company were going to stage The Ghost Train, written by Arnold Ridley, actor and playwright (1896-1984). If that name seems familiar, it is because it is, given Arnold Ridley is best known for his role as Private Godfrey in the classic Dad’s Army. But it was also known he was a writer and The Ghost Train is his best known work.
Janet and I went to the opening night on Thursday, 30th October and were gripped by the story. There were plenty of twists and turns. Was there something supernatural going on here or was it a con or could it be both?
Programme Blurb
The action takes place in the waiting room at Fal Vale, a wayside station on the South Cornwall Joint Railway in the 1930s.
Setting
As ever with The Chameleons, the setting did conjure up a true sense of place. The ticket office reminded me strongly of the one at Alresford for the Watercress Line. The posters were reminiscent of the era, as was the seating and the coal fire. The costumes were a wonderful indication of era too, especially the hats worn by the ladies.
Sound effects and lighting were used brilliantly to conjure up the idea the ghost train really was about to pull into the station. I especially used the love of dry ice at the start of the play which spilled over the stage and towards the front row of the audience. While the temperature did not drop in Ritchie Hall, the use of this did seem to imply the temperature had gone down. A lovely set up for a supernatural story then, or one you are being led to believe is a supernatural one.
Plot Line
A very silly young man accidentally strands six passengers at a small Cornish wayside station. Despite the pyschic stationmaster’s weird stories of a ghost train, they decide to stay the night in the waiting room…
Cast
Saul Hodkin (station master) – Stuart Wineberg
Is reluctant to reveal the story of the ghost train but does do so eventually. The stranded passengers are keen to know the story. As they’re stuck there, they may as well know. He is keen to get home and for them to be elsewhere. They’re not prepared to walk five miles to Truro in pouring rain at night.
Richard Winthrop – Wayne Bradshaw
Elsie Winthrop – Julie Edwards
The couple, married for a year, are always arguing. She seems to resent him. He’s worried about finding a much needed new employee and pressure is getting to him. Being stranded is the last thing they need.
Charles Murdock – Rory Blincow
Peggy Murdock – Lucie Stranack
This couple have literally just got married. Her parents don’t approve of him. He is talking about having a brief honeymoon and then going abroad to find work but isn’t planning on taking his new wife with him. What’s going on here? Are her parents right about him?
Miss Bourne – Marilyn Dunbar
Lives with her sister. Is prim and proper. Is in anguish at being stranded. Discovers her pet bird, far from being male, has laid an egg. Later, discovers the joys of medicinal brandy!
Teddy Deakin – Dave Wilkins
The silly young man who sets everything in motion by pulling the communication cord on the train because he didn’t want to lose his hat. Cannot understand why everyone else is so furious with him. He sees it all as a lark. But is there more to Teddy than meets the eye? Is someone really that silly? He gives Miss Bourne his brandy flask when she is so upset. Is stunned to discover she drained the contents. For someone reluctant to drink, to avoid offending the vicar, Miss Bourne took to the demon drink remarkably well!
Julie Price – Angharad Warren
Comes into the play towards the end. Appears to be disturbed. Is convinced by the truth of the ghost train because she says she has seen it and “knows” if she sees it again, she will die. Yet she is compelled to come to the station to see it! She urges the others to get out and walk five miles to Truro and leave the station before it is too late. Is she right though?
John Sterling – Nick Coleman
Also comes into the play late. Is Julie’s doctor and is trying to persuade her the ghost train story is not true and she must get away from the station. She will have none of it and then there seems to be evidence the ghost train really does exist, enough to make him change his mind on this.
Jackson – Terry James
Cannot say much without giving the whole story line away but Jackson is a major part of the reveal at the end of the play.
For The Company
Stage Manager – Terry James
Properties – Karol Cooper
Sound – Wayne Bradshaw/Lisa Barfoot
Lighting – Dave Wilkins/Daisy Wilkins
Set Construction – The Company
Directed by: Jan Bradshaw
Production Assistant: Glen Partridge
Review
One sign of a play like this being a huge success, in my view, is when there is an interval and the audience is busy chatting trying to work out what is going on. It shows you the play has gripped the audience and I can confirm theories were being shared.
One of mine was Charles Murdock may have been a bigamist which is why he was planning to leave his new wife behind when he went elsewhere. The storyline doesn’t confirm or deny that, but it was interesting as the play went on, Charles did seem to become a more honourable character and, at one point, acted to defend his new wife. When he was later offered a job by Richard, it seemed to be the point of change for him in a good way (and also for Richard with Elsie, they saw things could now get better for them too). I felt at this point Charles and Peggy could and would make their marriage work and prove her parents wrong.
As for the ghost train element, the twists and turns led me to believe it was just about plausible but I did wonder if there was a con behind it. What I couldn’t figure out was how the con would work or who could benefit from such a thing. There was nothing obvious here. Then, with most effective lighting and sound as the play went on, it did seem to convey that the train story could be true. This was backed up by facts and figures given for the deaths connected with the train when it crashed, information provided by the station master.
As the play went on with more evidence that the ghost train could be real, the self contained and “I don’t need your protection”, Elsie, did fall apart and did need the support of husband Richard. It was lovely to see as the terror increased, she literally snuggled into him. Earlier in the play she couldn’t get far enough away from him. Little gestures on a small stage show up well!
As ever, I’m not giving away the ending but I will say The Ghost Train is superb and deservedly Arnold Ridley’s most famous work. It is a fantastic storyline and, as ever, The Chameleons performed it so well. If you’re a fan of mysteries, you will like this story.
As I left Ritchie Hall that night, it did feel like I was coming out of the past back into the present day.
But then good theatre should make you feel as if you have been in another world for a while.
News From The Chameleons
From the programme, The Chameleons say from 2026 they will be presenting a play at the end of May and September with pantomime dates staying as they currently are (the last two weeks of January). I do know I’m already looking forward to seeing what they come up with next year. Meantime, there is the pantomime to think about – oh yes there is.
Next Production
The pantomime this time will be Camelot written by Ben Crocker and that will be on from Friday 23rd to Saturday 31st January 2026. It promises to be great fun – the pantomimes are always wonderful for generating lots of laughs.
Hopefully see you there.
Related Posts:-
Celebrating 60 Years of Drama with The Chameleons – A Look Back at the Open Evening
Review – The Chameleon Theatre Group – Notes From A Small Island
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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It was such an outstanding performance. We totally enjoyed it. It’s very clever and the ending was not what I was expecting!