The cast of Barking Gecko’s A Ghost in my Suitcase. Photo by Prudence Upton.
As part of the Sydney Festival, Barking Gecko has brought us A Ghost in my Suitcase, an enchanting production based on the book by Gabrielle Wang, adapted by Vanessa Bates, and directed by Ching Ching Ho and Matt Edgerton.
The themes explored in this production include grief, identity and cultural and family relationships.
The narrative centres on Celeste, a twelve-year-old girl who defines herself as ‘Half-Chinese, half-French and all Australian’. Celeste, leaving her father and brother behind, flies to Shanghai to visit her grandmother Por Por so she can ritually scatter her beloved mother’s ashes in farewell.
Celeste discovers that she comes from a family tradition of ghost catchers, and that her own grandmother is a ghost catcher. She also has to deal with hostility from Ting Ting, Por Por’s adopted granddaughter who is full or resentment at Celeste’s arrival and diversion of Por Por’s time.
Over the show we learn that Celeste also has the gift of ghost catching and we meet various ghosts. Celeste and Ting Ting have to learn to get along and become a team, racing to save Por Por from a nasty fate.
The set of this charming production is mostly a series of boxes of various sizes that can be fluidly moved around. Wonderful use is made of projections throughout to depict the ghosts and the various locale – the airport, facades of ancient Chinese buildings, canals and boats, and a marvellous bike ride through Shanghai, to mention a few.
The cast of A Ghost in my Suitcase. Photo by Prudence Upton.
The excellent soundscape in this production is atmospheric and includes bells, drums, clicks and drips, and a pulsating ghost hunting theme. We learn that ghosts do not like the sound of a kazoo.
As Celeste, Alice Keohavong is delightful. As Por Por, Amanda Ma is strong, gutsy, and challenging. She appears somewhat aloof and enigmatic but underneath is kind, loving and focused. Yilin Kong as Ting Ting gives a very physical performance incorporating martial arts movements full of vibrant, fluid grace. This family is an extremely impressive team of ghost busters.
A Ghost in my Suitcase is a wonderful family show with just the right amount of spookiness combined with marvellous characters and special effects. A production that will captivate children and adults alike.
Rating: 4 stars ★★★★
A Ghost in my Suitcase
Barking Gecko Theatre at Sydney Festival
Based on the book by Gabrielle Wang
Playwright: Vanessa Bates
Co-Directors: Ching Ching Ho & Matt Edgerton
Set & Costume Designer: Zoë Atkinson
Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall
Composer & Sound Designer: Rachael Dease
CAST
Celeste: Alice Keohavong
Por Por: Amanda Ma
Ting Ting: Yilin Kong
Female Ensemble: Frieda Lee
Male Ensemble: Imanuel Dado
9-19 January 2019
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
