"Spirit Level" by Pam Valentine.

Riverside Drama Company

Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton.

Famous crime writer Jack Cameron and his wife Susie drown in a boating accident, but they are refused entry into heaven because Jack is an atheist, so they return to haunt the country cottage where they once lived.

They soon learn life as a ghost can be very dull. Their only pleasure comes from spooking the estate agent and frightening away any would-be tenants. But things change when Susie persuades Jack to allow a young couple to move in - Simon, an aspiring crime writer, and Flic, his pregnant wife. Inevitably, Susie and Jack become drawn into their lives ...

Simon struggles with writer's block and Marcia - Flic's monstrous mother - is doing her best to separate the couple. With little expectation of success, Susie calls up her Guardian Angel, but she's far from the angelic figure one would expect!

She tells Jack he can help Simon write his book - but by a very unorthodox method which causes much confusion.

Christmas arrives, bringing with it a snowstorm, and the expected baby. Then - in a moment of crisis - Jack finds himself doing something that no card-carrying atheist would ever admit to. But will it help . . . ?

Jack Cameron is played by Jonathan Greaves. Sarcastic in parts but then there are the odd glimpses of affection for his wife and that thread of childlike humour which weaves throughout the play. Portrayed brilliantly with a natural sense of fun by Jonathan.

Susie Cameron is played by Lizzie Norris. Often forgetting that she is not of this world anymore, Susie of course, not Lizzie. This is a wonderfully fun role, and like Jonathan, portrayed with a very natural air which eradicates the idea that they are actors playing parts and makes you feel that you're a fly on the wall, viewing everyday normal, albeit deceased, people going about their everyday lives.

The Guardian Angel, who is at first summoned up "for a bit of fun" by Susie, is played by Donna Osmond. Complete with mobile phone with a heavenly ring tone, this heavenly onlooker always seems to be busy. I'd forgotten about this character from when I first saw this play in Arnold in 2019, but a lovely fun reminder created by Donna.

Simon Willis is played by Paul Norris, the aspiring author, who also just happens to be Jack Cameron's biggest fan. Some nice comic moments with this character, especially with the help provided by the Camerons with Simon's writer's block.

His wife, Felicity Willis, is played by Jenni Wright. The chemistry between the Willis's is very believable, mainly because there are several disagreements and temper losing, showing this couple to be a very "normal" couple, especially with Flic's impending arrival and the onus on Simon to produce a best-selling book.

Marcia Bagshaw, mother to Felicity and mother-in-law from hell to Simon is played by Celia Billau. I have seen Celia play the odd battleaxe in the past, and here is another to add to the list. That said there is a very comical scene between Marcia and the estate agent as Susie gets her own back for the insults that Marcia had made about the house and the Camerons earlier in the play.

The letting agent, Mark Webster of Webster, Webster & Webster is played by Dave Wilson. Webster is deeply affected by the spirit of the cottage and, seemingly, the only living person who gets to see the Cameron's playful activities, making him a bit of a nervous wreck, much to the amusement, as well as confusion of the other characters. Great fun with the scenes that Dave has to appear in. Why Webster would be afraid of spirits, I don't know because by the end of the play he had more spirits inside him than out!

Directed by Liz Turner, who knows how to bring out the best in comic plays like this, as well as in her cast of actors. The comedy is gentle and taken at a gentle pace, and that means that you get every comic line spoken and digest and understand the comedy at its' fullest. You can tell that Liz and her cast have enjoyed producing this play.

Set Design and construction is by Liz, Bob Baron and Riverside Drama Company. The action takes place in the main sitting room of the late Camerons, but there are a pair of French windows which, when uncurtained show part of the garden, which looks beautiful in the winter scenes.

Lighting Design is by Dave Martin with the Sound Design by Keith Salway. Both operated by Rob Osmond.

It's very nice to state that there were no missed mic cues; the reason for that is because Riverside had no need of mics because all of the actors performed un-mic'd with excellent projection. The sound effects were perfectly timed.

What I noticed about the lighting was that when there was just the Camerons in the room, the lights dipped slightly. I though this a very clever piece of lighting because we all know that if there is an unearthly presence around, they feed off the electrical forces which make lights dip. I wonder how many other audience members noticed or were even aware of that nugget of information?

What I also liked about the production side of this play were the costumes. Ghost characters are always seen to be wearing white, and that was true for the costumes for the deceased duo. the other costumes matched the character's roles and stature.

As I said earlier, I had seen this play before, a few years' ago, so I knew that I was in for a fun evening of spooky splendour. Riverside did not disappoint. So, if you're feeling a bit down this weekend, this crew will most definitely lift your spirits I exspect(re). (Sorry, you knew there was not a ghost of a chance getting through this review without any form of pun).

"Spirit Level" is at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton until Saturday 24 June. there's only one reason why you won't be able to sleep after this show, and that's because you'll still be chuckling.