This review contains minor spoilers. In Ghostlight , Dolly de Leon stars as Rita, an actress who unexpectedly becomes a beacon of change and healing for a grieving family: Dan (Keith Kupferer), his daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), and wife Sharon (Tara Mallen), who are, in fact, real-life family members. After an unexpected tragedy involving their son Brian, life becomes unbearable for the family.
While pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian’s friend, Christine, Dan’s job and relationship with his wife and daughter is affected, causing undue stress for everyone involved. Everything changes when Rita invites Dan to join an upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet . Ghostlight is an acting tour de force, with every member of the cast delivering performances of remarkable rawness.
Keith Kupferer in the lead role is outstanding. Comfortable in long scenes with agonizing emotion, fluid in shifting between the dramatic and comedic. His scenes with Dolly are charming due to his embrace of awkwardness amidst the veteran actress’s ceaseless warmth.
Dolly as Rita embodies the lovable Filipina, balancing playful embarrassment of her workmate’s daughter with her warm, affectionate side. She is a lively spirit, twirling around like a mischievous fairy, sprinkling a sense of life both inside and outside the theater. Her extensive theater background lends her not just credibility, but also a deep relatability that bleeds through the screen.
Theater as an ‘integr.
