The Importance of Being Haunted

This review is pointless; the show's run is over. But, then, a skeptic conducting a seance is kind of pointless, too. Sometimes the most meaningful things you can do have no good rationale.

Few shows have ever made me laugh as hard as this one. There are gold-medal lines that will probably haunt the back of my mind like a ghost for some time, all delivered with a kind of over-the-top showmanship that cracks a little around the seams. The show, of course, can't be taken seriously. The good doctor/medium instructs audience members in appropriate reactions to questions, fakes his way around botched reveals, and the spectacle is haunted by a distinct lack of any ghosts whatsoever. Some things get goopy, but never spooky - and everything has a kind of wink-wink quality to it.

Except, that is, for an underlying vulnerability that borders on desperation. The game of the show is that you have to keep playing along as if none of it means anything, even though, increasingly, it becomes clear that it does mean something to the medium. Or, rather, it means something that it should mean something. Is that getting murky? Are the lights dimming?

The Importance of Being Haunted is sweet, poignant, hilarious. It's so fun that you might not even notice how good the performance is, or how the show is so well crafted that never a moment drags or dims. Maybe the best craft, after all, is invisible. Maybe it's in the room with us right now.

This was charming! I thought the campy vaudeville elements were cute and engaging, if sometimes a bit too long. The theremin bit was a highlight. The turn away from artifice and towards the personal in the final third was sweet, if a bit ham-fisted. Grief is a hot topic at the Fringe every year, and it’s hard not to compare this to works that explore it a bit more thoughtfully or creatively. Overall, this was a decent showing for this new work and I’d be interested to see what they come up with next.

This is a brand new production, and Gwendolyn should be proud of the audacious and intriguing premise. Initially positioned as a humorous vaudeville spirit act, the narrative closes well at the end, with a lovely homage.

I will be honest, not all parts of the script stuck the landing, particularly in the first half. It was a bumpy ride. As a new production, they'll probably want to do more development and re-work. But the seeds of warmth are there, the production has heart, and as the show wrapped up, you realize that this is a very innovative concept.

Gwen was very entertaining and put on a show full of laughter with a purpose. Must see at the fringe!

If you had the chance to ask a Ghost a question, what would you ask?

But before you can ask a Ghost any question you have to ask yourself a question, do you believe in Ghosts?

Dr. Silkini (Gwendolyn Coburn) brings you into his world of Ghostly delights and I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

This show truly represents the best of Fringe.

Thoroughly enjoyed the show. Funny, talented, and unexpectedly touching.

Do you believe in ghosts? I mean, really believe? Have you seen one? Have you heard one give one tap for “yes"? Or is it just a feeling?

The Vaudevillian ghost medium, complete with jaunty moustache and tailcoat, is sure that the ghosts require your enthusiasm to make contact with the spirit world. If you call yourself a believer, Dr. Silkini (Gwendolyn Coburn) wants you to yell it from the rafters. Even skeptics are invited to humor him as he performs a series of parlour tricks that just might do the job.

The Importance of Being Haunted is quintessentially Fringe because there's so much more you'll take with you than a few ghost-summoning pointers. What begins as a clown show with visual gags, amusing vignettes, and some impressive dance moves, ends with a poignant message about grief and loss. Why have humans been trying to make contact with the afterlife for generations? What is it we're really looking for? Perhaps Silkini can conjure up an answer or two for you.

“What is a ghost, really?”

That’s the question you’ll be asked - and one you’ll ask yourself - at "The Importance of Being Haunted". This production is an emotional rollercoaster of song, dance, tasteful accents, and unexpected endings. It’s a gift for anyone who loves to be surprised. I laughed. I cried. I did both at once.

At first, I was briefly confused and disengaged, which initially shaped my opinion of the show. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I was (pleasantly) surprised by what unfolded onstage. Ultimately, the production proved to be beautifully written, well-executed, and undeniably entertaining.

I have to give credit to the fantastic lighting, sound, prop work, and video displays. Together, they created an ambient, old-world, yet well-cultured atmosphere. By the end, I was entirely hooked. The unexpected message behind the play truly brought it to life. It was intimate and relatable, like a window into the performer’s world. I definitely found myself in tears by the final bow.

While it seemed to resonate more with older folk, this production is a short, humorous, and entertaining glimpse into the theatre world for all ages - and a tasteful Fringe choice.