Fans of the Hollywood blockbuster Ghost will not be disappointed by the musical adaptation, playing at The Orchard Theatre in Dartford.

The standing ovation from the audience was well-deserved, as a strong cast mixed with genius special effects, particularly for a touring production, made for a good night all round... albeit quite heart-wrenching.

True to the 1990 film of the same name, Ghost the Musical, which originally played on the West End back in 2011, follows a young couple, Sam Wheat and Molly Jensen, who have recently moved to Brooklyn, in New York and renovated an apartment.

While life is seemingly perfect, tragedy strikes when Sam is killed leaving Molly to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Realising he is now a ghost stuck between worlds, Sam enlists the help of fraudster medium Oda Mae Brown to make contact with his one true love.

Clever staging and effortless effects to portray the supernatural and afterlife complemented the strong leads in this new version of the show produced by Bill Kenwright.

Andy Moss was the perfect casting as Sam Wheat, played by the late Patrick Swayze in the film. Known best for his role as Rhys Ashworth in TV's Hollyoaks, his portrayal of the - quite literally - troubled soul yearning to make contact with his soulmate was beautifully heartbreaking.

Skilful lighting and sound also made Wheat appear as if he really was an apparition, which was a feat in itself.

Equally, Carolyn Maitland as Molly Jensen was stunning. Maitland, whose professional credits include Miss Saigon and Kiss Me, Kate, made a likable character lovable with her strong singing voice and believable chemistry with Moss.

It was hard to believe that it was her first night in the role, after taking over from Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding. She wowed the audience with her rendition of 'With You', a song which has been covered numerous times on television talent shows since its release.

The classic 'pottery scene' in the film also features in the show, along with a touching rendition of the film's song Unchained Melody, originally performed by the Righteous Brothers.

A surprising element was well-placed comedy moments, helped by Jacqui Dubois as zany con-artist-turned-psychic Oda Mae Brown. Dubois breathed new life into the character - made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in the film - with her witty musical numbers 'Are You A Believer?' and 'I'm Outta Here'.

Act One was a stronger performance all round, due to the emotional build up that closely follows Molly's grief, which is something Act Two lacked as the show drew to its conclusion.

Ghost the Musical will certainly resonate with anyone who has ever experienced love and loss, tugging at the heartstrings and longing for Molly to complete "those unfinished conversations" with Sam.

The performances in this show will stay with you for a long time, but more importantly, they serve as a reminder that every moment is precious, and you never know what life has in store for you just around the corner.

Ghost the Musical runs at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre until Saturday, January 21. For tickets, visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or call 01322 220000.