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August 4, 2007

Upper Darby Summer Stage presents Ragtime, The Musical–a marvelous musical melting pot

Theater Name: Upper Darby Summer Stage at UDPAC
Show Name: Ragtime, The Musical
Opening Date:August 3, 2007
Date Show Seen: August 3, 2007
Reviewer Name: Arnie Finkel
Date Review Submitted to SMO:August 4, 2007

The opening number of Ragtime, presented by the Upper Darby Summer Stage, is one of the best openings of a musical I know. It introduces the three major ethnic and social sets around which the plot revolves. The time is 1906. We first hear from the WASP group which serves to introduce Father, Mother, The Little Boy, Mother’s Younger Brother, and Grandfather. The second grouping is the immigrants, which point our focus to Tateh (Yiddish for Father) and The little Girl.   The last to be heard from are the Negros(the term used in the script) introducing Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Sarah. It is interesting that only Coalhouse and Sarah have names.  All these characters will interact to make up the rest of the play.

As performed at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, it was the best possible introduction. Eighty voices in perfect harmony, moving well, and indicating the tensions among the groups, got Ragtime off to a splendid start. Terrence McNally used the device of having each character speak about themselves in the third person. I relaxed. I knew I was in for a real treat.

The three stories of Ragtime fold back on each other and are interwoven tightly. The award winning Mr. McNally had the difficult task of condensing E L Doctorow’s novel into a book for a musical. He wisely kept the inclusion of famous people of the time as characters. We find Harry Houdini, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T Washington and Admiral Peary making appearances to comment and to further the storyline. If you don’t recognize any of the above, the Lobby has bios of all of them for you to study before you see Ragtime. I recommend that you read all the material in the playbill. It will enhance your enjoyment of the performance.

All of the cast were uniformly excellent, particularly all the principals. I was impressed with Rachel Stevens’ feisty and fiery Emma Goldman, and Jean Bernard Cerin’s misguided but eloquent Booker T Washington. Katherine Hallinan as The Little Girl stole my heart. She was letter prefect.

And the music—ah, the music. Stephen Flaherty (Music) and Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics) understood perfectly how to use the Ragtime idiom as a base and include solos that are singable and further the plot. Gina Giachero conducted an eighteen piece orchestra that was never less than perfect. Who ever was the pianist deserves a solo bow. 

Special moments for me were the duet between Tateh and Mother-“Our Children”. Shacara Rogers contributed a special Gospel feeling to the end of act one. I was impressed with the quiet underplaying and strong voice of Liz Seymour as Mother.  Everyone was so good that I applaud all of them.

Mary Ann Swords-Green dressed the cast with just the right style. Joseph Leduc’s lighting design was right on the mark. The two-story set was so flexible that it allowed the action to flow. Great job by Emily Clay. The biggest challenge to Erin McCourt and Hannah A Wisniewski had to be the working Ford.   They did themselves proud. Sound design by Dave Serratore made it possible to hear everything and still allow the orchestra to play full out.

I come at last to the two young gentlemen who made this all possible. Robert Harris was the choreographer. He did an amazing job. The dances were well rehearsed and added a special dimension and excitement to the performance.

I don’t have enough superlatives to do justice to the job Marcus Stevens has done in directing Ragtime. That he loves the piece is more than evident in the care and excellence of his work.  The device of having The Little Boy be present, although mute, in most of the scenes was so fitting that I can’t imagine it not being there. Moving and positioning eighty people (let alone getting them on and off) was handled with the aplomb of a seasoned director. I expect to hear great things from Mr. Stevens in the future.

Ragtime was produced on Broadway in 1996 where it was awarded thirteen Tonys. It is an American Classic. Ragtime was part of the 32nd season of Upper Darby Summer Stage. The quality of the work was so good that I know I will be back next year. Go get a ticket!!

 


Filed under Musical, Upper Darby Performing Arts Center (UDPAC) by arniefinkl

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