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Summary: Ghost Light by Frank Rich
Review:
"There is a superstition that if an emptied theater is ever left completely dark, a ghost will take up residence. To prevent this, a single "ghost light" is left burning at center stage after the audience and all of the actors and musicians have gone home."
Set in Washington D.C. during the influential and changing times of the 1950's and early 60's, the autobiographical novel Ghost Light follows the trying life of Frank Rich, illustrating the profound and immense impact that the theatre had on his childhood and life as a whole. At the tender age of ten, Frank's parents committed the ultimate sin in society at that time by getting a divorce, a scandalous action that would continue to affect him and his sister for the rest of their lives, becoming the most important of the myriad of conflicts presented throughout the story. However, the allure of the theatre softened the immense pain and gave Frank a new perspective and outlook on the world. His everyday life and customs drastically altered by his parents separation, Rich took comfort in musicals including Gypsy , Damn Yankees, The Pajama Game, Fiddler on the Roof and South Pacific which seemed to seperate him from real life and the many problems associated with it. Growing more and more dependant upon the glamorous era of Broadway to hide him from the many problems that he was facing in life including thepainful emotional and physical abuse of his step-father, Rich is transported to a world free of problems and limitations through these shows that have a tremendous influence on his life and decisions. A dedicated fan, Rich reconstructes miniature theater sets and collects discarded Playbills from garbage baskets, trying to fill the empty pieces of his life and soul with these plays. In a world where everything around him seemed to be changing, these classic musicals remained solid as a place of comfort and security for Frank, becoming a major part of his life and ultimately helping him through the difficult transition from child to adult.
Composing the book from his own perspective, Rich allows the reader to experience his life through the eyes of a young boy, initially illustrating events from a child's perspective and allowing the reader to experience first hand his own feelings and problems. His style of writing is somewhat reminiscent of the time period, portraying his life and character to the reader clearly and allowing one to really connect with him. " Sitting before the TV sets in our living rooms- they hadn't invaded bedrooms yet- we watched our neighborhood in a faithful black-and-white replication; the same driveways jutting like tongues from garage to street, the same lawns awaiting the next weekend mowing, the same father with his genial grin and firm but calming voice, the same perpetually amused, slightly distracted, occasionally flustered, but resolutely uncomplaining mother poking around in the kitchen preparing the next meal, the same mischievous but fundamentally good brothers and sisters committing only the most innocuous infractions of their parents' painstakingly codified rules. Sometimes it was hard to figure out where Somerset ended and the TV neighborhoods began" (5). Rich allows the reader to understand the familiarity and comfort found by living in the suburbs during this time period, the unwavering routine that was always followed and the false sense of happiness and perfection within family life. Through this description, he allows one to realize and comprehend the immense impact that the dissolution of his own family had on his personality, shattering the false perception of a perfect suburban life and disrupting the sense of order within their community.
I thoroughly enjoyed and connected with this book on a myriad of levels. Through Rich's unique style of writing it was easy for me to understand how difficult and awkward it must have been to be placed in Frank's position in a society and time in history in which such a thing as divorce was simply unacceptable. Also being a lover of music and plays, I particularly enjoyed his admiration and strong dedication to Broadway life and was thrilled when he was finally able to achieve his dream through his job as a New York Times reviewer. In my opinion, this book is a portrait of one boy's journey from a home, communtiry and era in which he no longer belongs to a new life filled with music, excitement and action and I recommend it to all in search of an inspirational and uplifting read.
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Summary: Wonderful title, wonderful book
Review: The concept of the "ghost light" is just magnificent. This book gave me much-wanted insight into the development of a theatre critic.
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Summary: Smart and touching memoir
Review: During his reviewing days at The New York Times, Frank Rich's love of the theatre was evident and contagious. Now we learn why: How could he not love an institution that had given him so much solace, excitement and escape when he was growing up? His remembrance of his 1950s childhood and the theatre (mainly musicals) that paralleled that troubled boyhood is special. It has much in common with Moss Hart's "Act One," another autobiography that traces redemption and lifelong devotion to the theatre. Rich's book will resonate most with people who recall musicals that thrilled and with grown-ups who began life in "broken homes" before divorce was as ordinary as an Andrew Lloyd Weber score.
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Summary: Ghost Light Shimmers!
Review: Fifty years ago, legendary playwright and director Moss Hart published an authobiography entitled Act One that instantly became a classic and held its place among the greatest theatrical memoirs ever written. This month, former New York Times Chief Drama Critic Frank Rich published his own story, full of passion, literacy, and wonder, that at once pays homage to Act One and transcends it. Rich has crafted the definitive stagestruck story, and there is no more significant book on growing up in the theatre. Rich's boyhood becomes a spellbinding play, a story that is joyous, crushing, funny, moving, and indelible. Anyone who cares for the American theatre, who has ever been shaken by the pulse of an orchestra begining an overture, who can find in himself even a glimmer of the passion bursting from Rich on every page, must read this book.
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Summary: Washington boyhood
Review: Frank Rich's boyhood in pre VietNam Washington, when it was still a small southern city is evocative for many reasons. He retreated to the theater as a method of coping with his chaotic family life and in his search for meaning and identity. His depiction of his community and the times in DC are accurate and engaging. The inner life of this budding theater maven is facinating. There's a dark, nostalgic aspect of this lonely boy's attempt to figure life as he grows. A well written memoir of childhood.
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Summary: A poignant memoir
Review: Frank Rich's boyhood story was touching, and I found I couldn't put it down! He gave a very good account of how the theatre saved him from a very loney and confusing childhood. I was fascinated with the parallels he saw in his own life and the characters in the plays he enjoyed so much. The story is told through the eyes of a child. Mr. Rich does an excellent job of providing details of life in Washington during the late 60's and the people he met along the way, and the influence they had in his life, good or bad. I look forward to his next book.
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Summary: More than I ever wanted or needed to know about Frank Rich.
Review: Frank Rich's greatest contribution to the American Theater was leaving it. Why anyone would want to read this self-serving, self-glorifying thing amazes me. I'm embarrassed to say I read it. I read an advance copy lent to me by a friend who got it for free. Because I'm a speed reader I didn't waste too much of my time. I've been a lifelong theatregoer and I saw many of the plays Frank Rich reviewed. He was a pompous, pretentious critic and even though I can't deny I like some of the think pieces he now does for The New York Times, his memoir is a bore. If Mr. Rich were reviewing this it would close opening night.
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Summary: Thanks for the memories
Review: Frank Rich's memoir "Ghost Light" is a painful reenactment of a lonely childhood. His parents divorced and he found solace in the wonderful world of the theatre. His stepfather shared his passion for this although he was abusive and difficult to live with. Personally, it was painful for me to read but I understood so much about my own childhood. Like Mr. Rich I found comfort in the wonderful world of cast albums, dreaming of seeing a Broadway show,keeping a vast collection of programs, etc. Mr. Rich proved to me that there were other kids like me and he had the guts to write about it. My one criticism of the book is that it tends to plod in places. Particularly in the beginning. He describes his bucolic childhood before his parents divorced with a little too much detail. Mr. Rich I salute you. Thanks for the memories
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Summary: That's Entertainment
Review: Frank Rich's memoir "Ghost Light" is a painful reenactment of a lonely childhood. His parents divorced and he found solace in the wonderful world of the theatre. His stepfather shared his passion for this although he was abusive and difficult to live with. Personally, it was painful for me to read but I understood so much about my own childhood. Like Mr. Rich I found comfort in the wonderful world of cast albums, dreaming of seeing a Broadway show,keeping a vast collection of programs, etc. Mr. Rich proved to me that there were other kids like me and he had the guts to write about it. My one criticism of the book is that it tends to plod in places. Particularly in the beginning. He describes his bucolic childhood before his parents divorced with a little too much detail. Mr. Rich I salute you. Thanks for the memories
Rating:
Summary: Thanks for the memories
Review: Frank Rich's memoir "Ghost Light" is a painful reenactment of a lonely childhood. His parents divorced and he found solace in the wonderful world of the theatre. His stepfather shared his passion for this although he was abusive and difficult to live with. Personally, it was painful for me to read but I understood so much about my own childhood. Like Mr. Rich I found comfort in the wonderful world of cast albums, dreaming of seeing a Broadway show,keeping a vast collection of programs, etc. Mr. Rich proved to me that there were other kids like me and he had the guts to write about it. My one criticism of the book is that it tends to plod in places. Particularly in the beginning. He describes his bucolic childhood before his parents divorced with a little too much detail. Mr. Rich I salute you. Thanks for the memories
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