City of Masks review – theatreland ghost story with female phantom of the opera out for revenge

In a West End theatre, a young actor hears a disembodied voice coaching his singing. It’s the start of an icky ghost-on-human romance This ghost story set in a West End theatre is creakier than the old wooden floorboards on stage.

It’s a gender reversal of Phantom of the Opera with a female phantom: wildly talented composer Eve (Amanda Jiang), who died tragically in a theatre fire. Or did she? That’s the question for earnest young actor Christian (Charlie Goddard) cast as the lead in a revival of Eve’s hit musical, City of Masks. It’s being staged in the very theatre where she died. Then Christian starts hearing a ghostly disembodied voice coaching his singing. Part of the problem with the film is a clash of acting styles. Jiang seems to have…