From the company of popular mechanicals who brought Shakespeare Aliens in 2023 comes the next installment of their Shakespearean/pop culture mash-ups. In this new odyssey comes a take on our favourite paranormal investigators, or Busters of Ghosts, if you will. It appears that the Toronto-based group, The Coincidence Men, found another winner, as Shakespeare Ghostbusters is a witty love letter to the comedy classic. 

Performing in the Main Theatre at Goodwood Theatre, the team clearly loves the works of Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and William Shakespeare, as the dialogue seamlessly weaves between the different styles. The story is essentially the same as the classic 1984 movie, with 30 minutes shaved off, but the accuracy still works within a stage play format.

Creating a parody of a comedy can be very tricky as the original source is already meant to create laughs. How are you meant to make something funny more... funny? The dedication and attention to detail to recreate the timing of famous jokes were very admirable, but a lot of the laughs seemed to have come more from a reliance on recognition of the original movie. However, in fairness to the actors, most of them found ways to encapsulate the spirit of the original actors rather than just doing impressions. It'll always be a tough act to follow, as the original Ghostbusters cast is nothing short of perfection.

The minimalist production design leaves a lot to the imagination, but the team finds creative ways to use lighting and props to work within the story. There are even a few self-deprecating jokes in the mix! A few recognisable ghosts make some appearances, and having them wear ruffs was such a wonderful touch. While there are some Renaissance-style covers of classic 80s songs, it seemed to be a missed opportunity not to use more of the original soundtrack and score.

Overall, Shakespeare Ghostbusters is a very clever send-up to the original beloved movie, with a lot of dedication and passion to make it feel like a blended parody of both subject matters. If you're a fan of proton packs and ruffs, I can recommend seeing Shakespeare Ghostbusters during the Fringe season.