Guest Book Review: Ghost Light
Sarah Orrick, guest blogger, posts the following review of “Ghost Light,” by Frank Rich.
A Memoir. 311 pp. New York: Random House, Oct. 17, 2000. $24.95. (Available online in both hardcover and paperback.)
For Washingtonians and fans of Frank Rich, Ghost Light, the New York Times op-ed columnist’s touching memoir about growing up in the nation’s capital, is a great read.
The title, a theatrical term for the single bare light that continues to shine at center stage after a performance, could well describe Frank’s lonely, stagestruck coming-of-age journey from National Theatre ticket-taker to chief drama critic for the New York Times.
The book recounts Rich’s painful childhood as the son of divorced parents at a time when intact, Ozzie-and-Harriet families were the norm. The erratic behavior of his new stepfather, who was by turns abusive and the bestower of such magical gifts as trips to see Broadway musicals, only served to heighten young Frank’s confusion.
Rich writes with great candor and humor about these ups and downs, his friends and mentors, his first girlfriend, and the passion for theater that sustained him throughout the difficult years. Those familiar with local landmarks will especially enjoy reading about the Washington institutions and neighborhoods that play a part in the story―such as Rich’s Shoes (started by Frank’s grandfather), the Somerset community in Chevy Chase, Alice Deal Junior High School, Cleveland Park, and, of course, the National Theatre, where Rich found his true inspiration and home.