←Recommendations of Ghost Light

When three estranged siblings reunite in the house they grew up in for the funeral of their abusive, alcoholic father, they start seeing and hearing spooky things. Is Pa’s ghost reaching out from the beyond to do more damage, or are his victims simply haunted by years of trauma and guilt? With vivid dialogue and sharply drawn characters, this distinctive and original piece uses the traditional trappings of a ghost story to get at something deeper and more real, eventually offering hope for how a broken family might finally begin to heal.

A thrilling piece that builds the tension effectively until the fever pitch of the climax. The characters are well developed and engaging. You genuinely feel for them and want them to be able to vanquish the demons of the past. There are eerie touches throughout that definitely keep the reader (and the eventual viewer) on edge. This would absolutely make an excellent edge of your seat performance experience for those that choose to stage it.

After losing someone who hurt them terribly, three siblings reunite in their family home to go through the motions and perform the rituals of grief for the world. Tiana's narration is a gorgeous way to naturally incorporate exposition as we get to know the house, the characters, and the backstory. The play has a stunning gothic sensibility, and the haunting atmosphere is tense and tangible on the page. It presents a brilliant opportunity for a horror-loving sound designer to ply their trade to tremendously spooky effect! This is a tightly plotted tale about trauma, regret, and healing.

"Ghost Light" is a thrill ride. John does a great job of creating tension and drama, and I will admit I got a little scared (I do scare easily). The characters are authentic, as is the dialogue. Simply, I enjoyed this play. It's definitely worth the read. Great job, John!