ohbloodyhell8

No, I am not referring to that light that Mater runs away from, but rather the light, usually a bare bulb in a tall lamp, left on in a theater overnight.  Many reasons exist for the origin of the ghost light-superstition, keep ghosts away, appease ghosts that live there, one story even says it was a clause in the equity contract.  I like to think it’s to provide light for the ghosts that live in the theater so they can perform their shows at night.

Theaters are naturally creepy places when you think about it.  Hundreds, thousands of people have performed on the stage, many more have sat in the seats of the audience, plus all the staff working to keep a theater running (especially the one who sweeps the stage at night—love that person).   Each person who enters a theater leaves an imprint of their souls there.  The characters from the minds of the playwrights live their entire lives in a theater.  Their only existence is on a stage being witnessed by nameless people who involve themselves in the characters’ lives for a few hours.  People connect with the human experience in a theater and have done so since the beginning of recorded history.  That is why theater will never disappear in my humble opinion.

We grapple with our human existence daily.  To sit in a chair (granted, usually an uncomfortable one, yet we keep coming back) for two or three hours and give in to the world created by the playwright, director, actors, and so many other staff members creating the production is an amazing experience.  Think about—first you have all of the people involved in creating the show.  They set aside any personal differences to work for one goal-a great show that connects with an audience.  Perhaps it’s a comedy to lighten the mood when the real world is grim, or a musical to bring one back to childhood when you sang songs as you went through your day (I never did stop doing that!).  Then think of the audience.  Again, a large group of people coming together, putting aside differences, and agreeing to sit in the dark together, suspending disbelief to enter a world that they know will only exist for the time they are all together.  The level of trust demonstrated in a theater is overwhelming.  The audience trusts they will be transported to another world and the actors trust there will be an audience there to witness the world they’ve made.  It’s one of the greatest things I have ever experienced in my life and I hope to continue experiencing it for as long as I am able.

My sons like the theater I’m rehearsing in now.  They think it is a wee bit creepy, as most theaters usually are.  The imprints of the many souls who have experienced emotion in their walls are there infusing the space with energy.  Where else do people wear other people’s clothes so readily?  Or walk around barefoot during rehearsal even though you know the floors have seen better days?  Or throw away normal modesty because you only have 30 seconds for that costume change?  Stories are told and retold because each generation struggles and celebrates the human experience.

Remember what Shakespeare said…the play is the thing… (okay, in that case it’s the way to catch the king)…shall we try this classic?  All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.  Go see a play…give theaters a reason to keep that ghost light shining.