Scene - Blogs - Ghosts in the theater Or just a trick of the light

Ghosts in the theater? Or just a trick of the light?
Published: 10/31/2011 4:17 PM
Last Modified: 10/31/2011 4:49 PM

A scene from "A Clockwork Orange," with an uncredited, somewhat insubstantial "extra" upstage left...

Actors Company of Tulsa, which is presenting a stage version of Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" at the Tulsa Little Theatre, recently posted a photograph taken during a performance of the show that features an odd image within the image.

The photo was taken by Matthew K. Lindsey, who has the role of Dim in the play, and he sent it to me via Facebook.

Lindsey writes: "Mind you there are no lights on that part of the stage during the performance, and nothing for light to reflect from."

Starr Hardgrove, the company's artistic director, said that photo was made during a performance, in which actors are operating cameras like paparazzi.

"Matthew came up to me, kind of frantic, saying, 'Look at this! Look at this!'" Hardgrove said. "And when I saw it, I thought, 'Holy...smokes! What is that?'"

Stories about the Tulsa Little Theatre being haunted have been circulating for years. Some say a young girl named Sara, who was killed in an accident in front of the theater at 15th Street and Delaware Avenue, is still in residence at the theater; others talk of a fellow named George, who died while sitting in his favorite seat in the theater.

Hardgrove said staging the show in the Tulsa Little Theater "has been an experience."

"One time, I seriously thought there was something speaking behind me, but when I turned around, no one was there," he said. "We've heard a lot of odd sounds, and there's just been a sense of general eerieness in the place."

Ghosts and theaters seem to go together. The single bulb kept burning on empty stages in dark theaters is often called a "ghost light" -- but whether it is to keep away the spirits of past performers or just to keep mere mortals from accidentally tumbling off the edge of a stage is is open to discussion.

As is the image Mr Lindsey captured in his photograph. A trick of the light, as it is refracted through a camera's lens? Or an uncredited "extra" in this particular scene?

Actors Company of Tulsa isn't presenting "A Clockwork Orange" on Halloween -- "We're just going to leave the theater to George or whoever that night," Hardgrove said -- but who knows what audiences might see, should they attend the company's final performances of this "play with music," Nov. 3-5.

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StarrHrdgr (last year)

This picture was crazy. I've been staring at it for about a day trying to figure it out. It's pretty amazing. Don't know whether I fully believe in Ghosts. But I prefer just to respect them and their space.

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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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Past Articles By James D. Watts Jr

2/15/2013		'Concept/OK' exhibit ends Saturday
2/14/2013		Symphony to host piano soloist
2/14/2013		Broadway tours bring 'Shrek,' improv musical to Tulsa area this weekend
2/14/2013		Arts roundup: Improv reigns at several upcoming theater events
2/14/2013		'Lion King' returns to Tulsa PAC June 4
2/12/2013		Review: Signature Symphony reprises '100 Years of Oklahoma Music'
2/11/2013		Tulsa Symphony's concert salutes diverse American music
2/10/2013		Cherokee artist weaves messages into baskets
2/10/2013		Tesla Quartet set for Tulsa residency next week with variety of activities
2/10/2013		Jim Murphy wins 2013 Anne Zarrow Award
2/10/2013		LBJ chronicler Robert Caro to speak at TU on Tuesday
2/9/2013		Theater review: Playhouse makes "Barefoot in the Park" believable

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