As a lover of oddities and spookiness, nothing raises my spirits more than walking into a paranormal parlour underscored with the dread-inducing sounds of a vintage orchestra. When the jazz is trudging heavily with melancholy, we somehow know that something strange is about to go down.

As the festival program forewarns, Mr. Tilly has indeed died – crushed to death by some machinery – and his friends have all assembled at the den of renowned psychic Madame Cumberbatch. Played with camp and flair by the effervescent Nicole Deveau, she seems to be a spiritual charlatan at first but soon has the séance go sideways on her with the unexpected appearance of Mr. Tilly’s meddling ghost. If you are a fan of Whoopie’s comedy in Ghost (1990), the possession sequence in Beetlejuice (1988), or even the cast from CLUE (1985), this show is likely for you.

Fringe shows often offer a slapdash and threadbare aesthetic, and a well-constructed set with quality finishings has notable impact. The production design is impressively slick for a fringe production, and all elements (from costumes to lights) deserve a special shoutout.

(Access note: the upstairs ballroom at Sugar Swing is not physically accessible for wheelchair users or and the long flights of stairs may prove challenging for those with significant mobility issues. For those sensitive to sound, be prepared for the odd knock that will strike in the room suddenly.)