Gordon has been a widower for three years since his wife Christine died tragically young. Now he leads a solitary life, and perhaps it is not surprising that he has taken to the bottle.
In fact he is just off for another evening down the boozer, when who should suddenly pop up but Christine herself. It seems that she and Gordon have unfinished business and until it is concluded poor Christine is stuck between this world and the next.
Alas, this is no Blithe Spirit. Martin Beard's inept two-hander is just the kind of show that gets the Fringe its reputation as a cradle of the half-baked. It has nothing to distinguish it except the mediocrity of the writing, performances and production values.
Haunted is a really good example of how narrative is only a tiny component of the theatre experience, and how important fully-developed characters are if you want to do social realism.
Both Gordon and Christine remain enigmas, their tedious relationship unexplored despite all the talk. The show might serve as a warning against the perils of alcohol, but it certainly doesn't offer anything but the most tragically mundane theatre experience. Go, and you'll be haunted by your choice.
· Until Aug 29. Box office: 0870 701 5105
