Review: GHOST JAM a Spooky Sure-Fire Outing for the Kids at Melbourne Town Hall

Coming off the back of his highly successful Kids Party Confidential, Sean Murphy is gaining a reputation for smart, nuanced and engaging children's comedy that appeals to the whole family. His new show Ghost Jam is an interactive interpretation of Japanese ghost stories compiled by Lafcadio Hearn in the fading embers of the 19th century. Sean Murphy assuming the mask of Hearn guides the audience through three of those stories with the musical accompaniment of a fox, played on a variety of exotic instruments by Sophie Unsen.

The young audience were kept enraptured by every opportunity to be part of the story, and to prove their bravery. Sean Murphy keeps a strong rapport with his skilled use of physical and verbal humour. What really makes Ghost Jam stand out though is its intellect: no toilet jokes or pandering, but an insightful and cultural offering that draws young people in with the need to use their brains and senses to fully understand the tales. Murphy and Unsen make the experience accessible with mime and sound and colour, but ultimately they bring to the audience a sense of wit and interpretation that sets it apart from the concepts based on stinkiness or stupidity. Worth taking your brood along for a thrilling, fun, and smart show.

Ghost Jam was presented as part of a short run in Melbourne Comedy Festival. Keep up with upcoming shows here.

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