Calling all of you who are intrigued by ghosts, folklore and the world of the unknown… Madame Isolde invites you to an evening dedicated to stories and original tales of real ghosts that are local to Brighton and Sussex. They may no longer be with us, but their spirit lives on through the retelling of what happened to them. They say that talking about them keeps them technically alive. What if the person telling these stories is already dead herself?
Ghost Songs to Die For With Madame IsoldeMadame Isolde may well have been dead since the 1930s, but Tristan Wolfe is very much alive and created an intriguing, intimate evening with nothing but a microphone, a table and a laptop with a mixing desk to play the tracks. Whilst the table could have had a little more decoration to indicate a more mystical feel to the set, such as a relevant tablecloth and a small Crystal Ball, Wolfe looked the part and channelled a character from another world with the grace and glamour of the era, whilst maintaining a modern attitude with the comic quips and audience interaction. There was a slight difference in tone as opposed to his cabaret setup, which I reviewed previously. This time, we saw someone who wanted to pay their respects to the dead, whilst being enigmatically charming about the satirical aspects of the evening.
It was evident that detailed research had been carried out to make sure the stories were accurately portrayed in between the songs, as he went into some light detail about each character. People such as local celebrities Martha Gunn, Ellen Nye Chart, and Jack Strike A Light were featured, and we had a nice touch with a well-designed booklet to follow and sing along with the lyrics if we wished. Wolfe was at the time grateful to us singing along, as he didn’t claim to be a singer, but did lead us well with the basic tunes on offer. These were easy to pick up and added a further supportive and engaging atmosphere to the proceedings.
One thing that added an extra charm to Madame Isolde herself was the way Wolfe made us feel comfortable during the interactions. A major highlight was when he targeted someone in the audience and asked where she had travelled from that evening. She gave a very apt heckle that was ‘you should know, you’re a clairvoyant!’. Whilst the audience ooohed at this quip, Wolfe played to his strength of using the power of pausing to aid the drama before responding. A very tricky skill to master in comedy for many comedians, but for Wolfe, it gave him the perfect comeback whilst staying in character…’I see you live in Sussex. Unlucky for some!’ If he applied that level of trust in his own material, what he had was a piece of work that is set to grow as the run continues.
Insightful, satirical and respectful is how to describe Ghost Songs to Die For With Madame Isolde. Just don’t mispronounce her name! Catch her before she goes to Edinburgh Fringe.
Ghost Songs to Die For is a spooky, gloriously chaotic cabaret of true ghost stories, original songs, and one classic cover, with a distinctly Brighton twist.
Review by Sascha Cooper
Your guide is Madame Isolde, a medium from 1936 who has drifted back into the future with insight from the astral plane and very strong opinions. She resurrects haunted theatres, restless spirits, and Brighton legends, including a ghost said to haunt the very Theatre Royal where the show is staged.
Each tale becomes a song that is eerie, ridiculous, and unexpectedly touching. Alongside original music written for the show, Madame Isolde summons one iconic voice from beyond the veil, because even Brighton ghosts have impeccable taste.
This is not a horror show. There are no jump scares and nobody climbs out of the audience. Expect dark humour, theatrical storytelling, and an atmosphere that feels perfectly at home by the sea.
Please also search for MADAME ISOLDE’S CRAZY ZODIAC CABARET
Cast & Creative Team
Tristan Wolfe – Madame Isolde