Ghost Light (Lincoln Center Theater) NYC Reviews and Tickets

"These wandering souls are doomed to an eternity of narcissism, yet there is something they love even more than themselves. That would be the theater. And anyone who shares that obsession will want to spend the enchanted two hours in their company provided by 'Ghost Light'...This production traffics in, and transcends, the enduring clichés of a profession, finding a hypnotic circularity in a craft that is, after all, about recreating the same images and words night after night after night."
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"There are many captivating sequences in 'Ghost Light’s' mix, especially those we watch from some distance...But the writing and choreography of the constituent parts lean toward the generic—a mash-up of Shakespeare, an idea of a longing pas de deux—and the language is often too stiff to be delivered conversationally at close range...Still, 'Ghost Light' is a hugely ambitious undertaking and a flat-out wonder of coordination. Even when it creaks a bit, you have to admire the spirit."
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"The type of interactive show that should be replicated in every theater town in the country with a yen to take audiences by the hands — literally — and remind them of what the stage can do that no other entertainment platform can. The beguiling images and encounters it catalogues feel as if they’ve been designed specifically with you in mind...The effect is hypnotic and you should know, the interaction is only as invasive as you want it to be."
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"The audience takes a backstage tour of the recently constructed Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center, which is made to resemble an old-fashioned playhouse. There they meet haunting spirits...These characters provide intriguing tidbits about their lives and theatrical folklore, but their monologues often drag and lack focus. That being said, the show offers a rare opportunity to see the parts of a theater that are typically off-limits and unacknowledged work that goes into a production."
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"'Ghost Light' is a site-specific play that seems like it would rather be anywhere else except the site for which it was specifically made...The actors bravely deliver monologues that range from cliché-riddled to completely incoherent...Morris and Willett's most impressive feat is the coordination of several overlapping scenes...It's not that there couldn't be an immersive experience in the Claire Tow, but 'Ghost Light' feels tailor-made for somewhere else entirely."
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"A romantic tribute to a style of theatre that made box offices buzz over a hundred years ago...An enchanting tribute to the world of greasepaint and powder...Sixteen engaging and talented ensemble members perform various vignettes pertaining to the day to day events of a life in the theatre...If there's anything to be learned by ‘Ghost Light,’ it's that the magic of theatre occurs only when you're willing to suspend all disbelief."
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"If you are looking for shocking moments or a visceral experience, this is not the kind of interactive production for you. All in all, this is a quieter, more cerebral piece than others of its ilk...What is remarkable is how well everything has been planned out and staged so that while specific moments may seem random, everything falls into place as a compelling whole...Truly this is a collaborative effort by the entire company...All contribute to the singular experience that is 'Ghost Light.'"
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“One of the greatest achievements of this production is how they are able to infuse a space with nonexistent history…The show runs like a well oiled machine…Even though audience participation isn’t heavy or obligatory, the show has a strange quality that allows one to be completely at ease…‘Ghost Light’ is the rare show that feels like it would be rewarded from a repeat visit, it’s the kind of show that you want to get lost in regardless of the consequence.”
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“I think they’re trying to speak to the universality of theatre, but somehow get sidelined into the generic. Which is a shame because there are plenty of moments imbued with magic…About halfway through I realized it was just a series of pastiches and wasn’t going to offer more than that…I do feel like there was a through-line, or a central conceit, missing. I think perhaps they got a little stuck on the concept of ghosts.”
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“There is more to ‘Ghost Light’ than an impressive feat of coordination…The show takes its cues from the elaborate and oft-mystical theatrical lore…The cleverness of one monologue suggested to me how much more ‘Ghost Light’ could have taken advantage of the centuries’ worth of words that is as much a part of theatrical legacy as its ghosts…Third Rail’s effective and engaging evocation of life in the theater is such a terrific idea that they could take it on the road.”
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"The intention is clear—or seems to be for much of the time. Morris and Willett want to acquaint ticket buyers with what they don’t ordinarily see...That’s all well and good—and even amusing from time to time. But it doesn’t explain the interludes where some cast members break into song or into dance routines...Often with immersive theater, a curious effect takes hold...The result too frequently is that the silent audience members become awkwardly docile...It’s not a flattering circumstance."
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"The split-second timing of the choreography is astonishingly impressive...While I enjoyed their individual glimpses into how shows get put together it's hard to connect those scenes into a satisfying narrative...We all came together in the end for a finale that stretched on a bit too long. But despite the above carps, I still left the theater with a smile on my face. What can I tell you. It's impossible for someone like me to resist this kind of theatrical magic."
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"Third Rail and Lincoln Center? It’s an alliance that sounds unholy at first blush, but ultimately proves felicitous...Some of the segments evolve into indulgent performance art pieces that unnecessarily bog down 'Ghost Light'...On the other hand, Third Rail is more liberal here letting audience members 'get our hands dirty,' something I wasn’t anticipating...What theatergoer wouldn’t be enticed by a backstage pass to this opulent venue, seasoned with just a touch of the supernatural?"
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"An unpredictable journey through nearly every nook and cranny of the Claire Tow...The two-hour show has a premise involving ghosts that never quite comes to fruition, but most everything else is a complete blast...In many ways, it’s like a miniature 'Sleep No More,' except you can’t follow your own path. 'Ghost Light' shines a fun and fascinating light on the creation of theater, mysterious ghosts and all."
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"The most powerful parts of the experience are the intimate monologues, when we sit with performers who describe one moment: maybe it's the writing of a scene, maybe it's the moment a needy actor thinks back on her roles. 'Ghostlight' is enthralling not only because it brings us inside the warren of rooms normally off-limits to the audience—but because it also brings us inside the minds and hearts of the actors and playwrights and ushers who inhabit them."
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“Third Rail was originally the project of a group of dancers, and several hit shows later that pedigree is still evident; the ensemble privileges physical theater, treating language as an afterthought. But my favorite parts are the most verbal…A collaboration among many craftspeople with diverse skills. For two hours it keeps you so busy running and climbing, fielding flying props and taking orders from people you’ve barely met, that you manage to forget the mess in the outside world.”
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