Burning the Ghost Light

I recently learned that a ghost light is a lamp (usually with a bare bulb) which burns in a theatre, center stage, all night long. The idea is that the light will keep the theater’s ghostly former cast, crew, patrons and, most likely, landlords at bay. (Maybe because they didn’t go into THE light, they just stay away from ANY light? Even earthbound specters can’t be too careful...err..I..whatever.)

So, I did a little more digging because this kind of creepy lore is right up my (dank, dark) alley.



Well, turns out (said in my best, dusty, old prospector voice ), no one knows fer certain where this superstition started. Some say it all began with that Shakespeare feller. Legend tells of Shakespeare’s desire to frighten away the ghosts of old performances. So, he began the tradition of burning a candle in the middle of the stage all night long.      [End Scene.]



Personally, I can’t help but to think that, while it may be true that Shakespeare and his boys did start this unique and potentially hazardous tradition, I’m envisioning the reason as something a little less noble – something more along the lines of too much mead, some under-cooked mutton or possibly a lost bet or some torrid, romantic tryst.



The bad pun-lover in me likes to think (no tomatoes, please) it might have something to do with keeping the "Boo's" away from the stage but...



Nonetheless, albeit not a very ‘green’ idea, it’s still pretty cool.



So how does this little story get the dogs barking?



Think past performances that keep hanging (and for some of us are starting to reeeeeally hang) around.



Think old habits that creep up behind us (wearing not a sheet with eyeholes, but a pair of our undies, comparable in size, and with big, saggy leg-hole eyes).



…Habits we thought were dead, or at the very least in the final throws, yet they still manage to raise one bloody (read: cheetos-stained) hand, to pull us down with them before the final curtain. (Note: This production is usually followed by the less successful yet substantially gorier sequel: The Cabbage Soup Diet.)



Let’s keep the ghost light burning. Let it represent the fight. Let it be that one shining light constantly glowing, even in the darkest, lonliest times. Let it help to keep the ghosts of old performances confined to corners and shadows and hopefully they'll find someone else (and someone else's hips) to haunt.