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Arts & Entertainment

'Ghost Light' Shines At The Barn

Three performance special recalls the golden age of musical theater.

Even in winter, there was plenty of heat at the Barn Theater Saturday as sizzling acts lit up the stage and audience members were transported to a different era.

"Ghost Light", an original work developed by Jack Mills, who serves on the Theatre's Board of Trustees, completed a three-show run at the Barn Theatre on Sunday. The play has a loose plot, as stars of theater’s past glory revisit the Barn for an evening of entertainment.

Vaudeville lover's were in for a treat, as the acts ranged from magic, to skits, to powerhouse vocal performances. A live band, the Regan Ryzuk Trio, provided a soundtrack as the cast performed some of musical theater’s classic numbers.

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“It was entertaining..we liked it a lot,” said David and Mary Camora of Parsippany. “Plus, we brought our son, and it was kind of a music education for him.”

"Ghost Light" is filled with performances from deceased legends, from Jimmy Durante and Ethel Merman, to Lena Horne and Ray Bolger.

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“It's an apporpriate show for the winter,” said Allison Boucher-Jarvis, a Montville resident. “It's simple, the show doesn;t cost a lot, and it's funny.”

The performance was also well-attended by other Barn Theatre performers.

“I like this show because it's different. It has so much soul,” said Samantha Kaplan, who previously appeared in last seasons “The Producers”.

“The show is great because there's nothing to critique, it's just pure entertainment,” said Michal Efron, who has appeared in several shows at the theatre. “There's no scenery, it's so much more intimate than other shows.”

The production was masterminded by Mills, who admits hes' been working on the project for a while.

“We put it together quick, but I've thought about it for a long time,” he said.

Mills, who directed and also appears in the show, said that although he played many roles, the show would be nothing without his co-stars.

“It's not the time you're on stage, it's what you put into the time you're on stage, and that's what these people do,” he said.

"Ghost Light" is the Barn Theatre's only production in February. Fans will have to wait until March 18 for their next production, when they will performing John Cariani's “Almost, Maine."

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