The Nag's Head cast at Park Theatre. Photo credit Alice Chambers.Cue a lot of thoroughly daft yet largely enjoyable student-y interplay, during which a macabre (even satanic) picture is dusted-off and hung behind the bar, triggering events. The trio — together with the omnipresent Greene King pub chain representative — realise the pulling power of ghost stories and their ability to draw an audience, so before long the once abandoned pub with its bad smell in the basement and odd furniture, becomes a success, albeit an assimilated and homogenised nightmare redolent of chain pubs up and down the country. As Sarah assumes control through her (demonic) bargain, she dons a tiara appearing possessed as she chants allegiance to her pub chain masters.
In less confident (perhaps even cockily youthful) hands, the zany elements of the material might founder, but the trio possess sufficient energy and playful deadpan timing to deliver the nonsense with assuredness and requisite tongue-in-cheek earnestness. When coupled with the invocation of a ridiculous sibling court and the resultant performance of an equally ridiculous dance routine, there are plenty of smiles to be had.
If ghostly goings-on could be turned into a panto, this would be it, and it would be churlish — indeed nigh-on impossible — to wish those involved anything but the very best of luck for their wholly spirited endeavour.
