Article: An Unexpected Light—SAVATHÛN AND THE GHOST Advance Preview

By Ken Yanagi, Arts and Culture Writer at the City Herald

The Ghost Community Players customarily present their works in the Wei Ning Memorial Theater, an unassuming black box in the heart of the Last City. SAVATHÛN AND THE GHOST: A TALE OF CROSSED LINES AND FORBIDDEN LIGHT, the newest work from Ghost playwright (now songwriter) Didi, is the latest to make its home in that same theater. An ambitious performance that falls short in some aspects but shines brightly in others, SATG begins its run this week, with tickets available on a very reasonable pay-what-you-can basis.

SATG depends on some esoterica of the Ghost-Lightbearer relationship which the average audience member may not find familiar, but the savvy observer will find context clues to enlighten them. The show is staged in the round, with a minimalist but expressive aesthetic. Audiences should not expect expansive sets or practical effects, but the costuming suits the actors perfectly, and the acoustics of the space (and the sound technicians' hard work) ensure that not a moment of script and song is missed. The majority-Ghost cast performs in a larger-than-life fashion, a directorial choice doubtless made to compensate for a lack of recognizable Human body language.

The result is a bombastic piece that has the feel of epic theatre or morality plays, rather than the tight, intimate drama that the script suggests it wants to be. However, the core of emotional truth in its actors and script alike left barely a dry eye in the theater, especially during Savathûn and Immaru's final star-crossed duet.

SAVATHÛN AND THE GHOST runs for the next two months; regular casting substitutions are expected based on field missions. Four stars out of five—if you're at all interested in experimental theatre, Guardians, or Hive, then make time in your schedule, bring tissues, and turn off your heavier thoughts for the night.

For ticket sales, please contact Pixie, Ghost of Ariadne Gris, via VanNet for inquiries.