Shakespeare
never gets the credit he deserves for being a writer of the macabre. Hamlet has
ghosts and graveyards, while Richard III is all about a psychotic
hunchback. The best example is probably Macbeth, with its witches and
curses. Of course, we are supposed to call it “The Scottish Play” because of
actors’ superstitions. Remember how they refuse to say the “M word” the next
time an actor lectures you on “science.” Nevertheless, when somebody tempts
fate by uttering the unutterable, it leads to a lot of supernatural trouble. On
the plus side, the amateurish summer stock troupe’s performances improve
tremendously in John Stimpson’s Ghost Light, which releases today on
DVD.
Henry
Asquith’s company has come to mount the Big Mac play in a picturesque country
playhouse. During the intense week of rehearsals, they will stay in the comfy farm
house adjoining the converted-barn theater. Hammy Alex Pankhurst will be
playing Macbeth thanks to his deep pockets. Brooding Thomas Ingram will be
playing Banquo, even though he believes he should have the title role, by
virtue of his superior talent. Liz Beth Stevens does not disagree with Ingram,
whom she is seeing on the sly, behind the pompous Pankhurst’s oblivious back.
Disgusted
by it all, Ingram and Stevens invoke the dreaded name and the cursed play
responds. Soon, they find themselves in positions very much like those in the
play. However, their rapport is threatened by the arrival of a mysterious backpacking
yoga tourist, who agrees to take on the part of “Second Witch.” Then accidents
start happening.
Ghost
Light is
a low-key supernatural comedy that is small in scope, but still rather pleasant
to watch. It features a game cast, all of whom seem to enjoy the larkiness of
it all, especially Cary Elwes, who absolutely gorges on the scenery as
Pankhurst. Arguably, Elwes doesn’t get the horror cred he deserves either, even
though he was in several dozen Saw movies and had recurring roles on Stranger
Things and The X-Files.
Be
that as it may, Roger Bart scores most of the film’s laughs as Asquith, who
manages to be both indulgent of his actors, but still bitingly sarcastic. Tom
Riley (Leonardo in Da Vinci’s Demons) and Shannyn Sossamon go all in as
the Macbeth-tormented lover-thesps, while Carol Kane acts like Carol
Kane, as Madeline Styne, as “The First Witch.”
