"Ragtime" Revival Opens on Broadway This Weekend. Should You Care??!

 

The cast of Ragtime busts it out in the opening number.

By Bradford Proctor

Ragtime is back from the dead (no pun intended), and better than ever!  Originally opening on Broadway in 1998 and running for two years, this behemoth of a show based on the 1975 book by E.L. Doctorow has finally been made manageable onstage by Director Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Let me break it down for you, if you don’t know Ragtime, this is one of those traditional old-timey musicals with a huge cast, lush orchestra, and a dynamic if-not somewhat depressing plot.  But that’s the point!  It’s like taking a trip back in time 100 years to experience all the racism and class hatred that we Generation X (or Y) ‘ers didn’t.  Well actually, we still experience those atrocities, but just in different ways (Maybe a modern retelling could be called “Fagtime?” But I digress.).

This production is not to be missed!  The original production was somewhat overdone, almost oversaddled with too many sets and lavish costumes, but the decision to strip down all those accoutrements down for this production was a good one.  The script and music are lavish enough that they don’t really need much help to stand on their own, and many of the songs are actually more powerful because you can just focus on the performances.

 

Christiane Noll waves a motherly goodbye in "Goodbye, My Love"

Christiane Noll as “Mother” delivers the most standout performance of the cast in my eyes.  She made a turn-of-the-century character relatable to a modern audience, possessing an inner fire that was tempered and complemented by her soaring voice.  Stay tuned for her eleven o’clock "wake me up" number “Back to Before” – she turns it out!

Other great moments came from Quentin Earl Darrington as Coalhouse and Robert Petkoff as Tateh, both of whom deliver really powerful performances.  I did want a little more oomph from the sound system (I was wondering why everything was so quiet the whole time!), but luckily that didn't really take away much from the show itself.

If nothing else, go see Ragtime for the music and beautiful orchestrations.  Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) had the task of capturing the era in a modern way, and they succeeded by bringing together actual ragtime-y cadences with a modern touch.  

 

Stephanie Umoh and Quentin Earl Darrington sing "Wheels of a Dream"

Terrance McNally’s book, while somewhat cumbersome and wearisome, does manage to introduce us not only to this large cast of characters, but also to the era in general.  At some points, it felt a little like a history lesson, but I think it partly in the show’s interest to educate.  Regardless, it doesn’t feel as preachy as it could, given the subject matter.  Bottom line: Don’t miss this one, and bring a hanky!

“Ragtime” opens on Broadway November 15.  Ticket prices from $46.50-$126.50, plus $1.50 facility fee, and are available at www.ticketmaster.com.   For more information, visit www.ragtimebroadway.com.