Ghost Light

by Tony Taccone

Genres: Plays

Reviews

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult play to read. I would call it a meditation on the long term effects of parent loss at a young age, and the complex world of the children of public figures. I learned a lot about the impact of being related to a dead celebrity, including the idea that complete strangers may track you down and try to create fake relationships with you. (That part of this story seriously creeped me out.)

I was also inspired to learn more about George Moscone, something I really haven't done since seeing the movie Milk. In this play, he comes across as an amazingly brave person (I loved the scene in which J. tells his friend that his father once locked the California legislature in their chambers so it would pass a bill legalizing sodomy in the state--how awesome is that?)

Great play, thoughtful playwright.

[bookinglibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This moving, powerful play had its world premiere at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this season and will be playing at the Berkeley Reperatory Theatre early in 2012. Based on the experience/memories of Jonathan Moscone, who was 14 years old when his father, San Francisco mayor George Moscone was killed, along with the now more famous Harvey Milk, the play speaks to anyone who has lost a loved one, who cares about progressive politics, the theatre, even Shakespeare. It is especially poignant for those of us who is grew up in the 1970s (like Jon) and was aware of the zeitgeist of the time.