MURDER and mugging on the mean streets of New York - not the sort of story you expect to have you in fits of giggles.

But when Oda Mae Brown is in town, you just can't help yourself.

Ghost is a beautiful love story, stunningly performed.

But it is the hysterical scenes featuring Jacqui Dubois in the role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg in an Oscar winning performance in the classic 1990 film that really stand out.

She had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand - and laughing out loud - as she was driven mad by ghosts, managed to withdraw $10 million blood money from the bank ably abetted by her spirit sidekick Sam and then reluctantly gave is away to the nuns.

Walking home one night, Sam and Molly are mugged at gunpoint and Sam is killed in the struggle.

He finds himself trapped as a ghost between this world and the next and unable to leave Molly who he learns is in real danger.

With the help of formerly phoney psychic, Oda Mae, Sam tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her.

Andy Moss and Carolyn Maitland enjoy sizzling chemistry as the loved up couple, particularly during the famous pottery wheel scene.

They both have strong voices with Maitland's pure musical theatre class while Moss has a rockier edge to his vocal.

They excel during their duets, particularly the superb show theme songs Unchained Melody, while Carolyn Maitland's emotional solo With You is a real high point.

The reworking of the show by Bill Kenwright puts the couple at centre stage rather than the big budget illusions we enjoyed the last time Ghost visited Southampton.

They were certainly spectacular. But I can't say I or the audience, who gave the cast a well-deserved standing ovation at the curtain call, missed them a great deal.

There were several clever special effects including out-of-body experiences, objects moving around by themselves, passengers floating around on the subway and the transition to Heaven or Hell.

It allowed us to concentrate more on the love story of the central characters.

But, someone else still stole the show - the larger than life and utterly sensational Oda Mae.

Ghost The Musical runs until Saturday.

Tickets: 023 8071 1811 or mayflower.org.uk