Anyone going to the first RAGTIME preview tonight (10/23)? — Page 3

What!? The only thing cut in DC was the Harry Houdini dream opening to act 2. Everything else was intact! It ran under 3 hours with intermission in DC and there as no issue. Why would they take it out now?!

---

Updated On: 10/24/09 at 01:20 AM

Seeing the show tomorrow, can't wait! All the reviews sound impressive, and I've already told my stepmom to bring tissues for she and I, because I know the waterworks will be starting from the downbeat for me.

Actually I don't think I'll might some missing verses. My one issue with the score was that the some of the songs felt a little too-fleshed by the time it got to Broadway, especially when compared to the concept album. (And I know it's sacrilege, but I wouldn't mind if Crime of the Century and Atlantic City, though great songs, had gotten cut from the final version.)

---

Updated On: 10/24/09 at 01:38 AM

Brian is right about tuning the system. Given a variety of responses about the sound in the posts, I suspect they probably are in need of adjusting the zones of the system.

As for the directing, I suppose its a matter of taste. I know one Broadway technical veteran who saw the show in DC felt it wasn't so much directed as staged. That being said, and with the caveat that I saw the show in DC and not yet in NY, I don't agree with the statement that everything was staged in one spot -- Journey On, Henry Ford, He wanted to say, Back to Before, Buffalo Nickle, are all staged differently and in different places on the stage -- not all use the entire stage, some use the set and show deck such as Henry Ford and He Wanted to Say while others were staged more centrally.

I'm really curious as to what was cut from the show and how it plays. I suspect they were trying to get it in under the 3 hour running time.

Saw the show in DC, and was there last evening for the first preview. Simply said, this is a glorious revival. The intimacy of the Neil Simon pulls you into the action in a very powerful way. Stephanie Umoh is a huge improvement over the vocally weak actress who played Sarah in DC. There appears to have been quite a few casting changes in the ensemble, and that choice has also paid off big time. The audience last evening was unlike anything I have experienced. Granted, the first preview certainly brought out legions of Ragtime devotees (including me!), but the ovations throughout the evening were unbelievable.

Just and FYI, before the curtain went down there was a standing Ovation. Don't know if that will be every night but they will definitely get great responses.

There was no standing ovation in the orchestra. There was loud, long, extended applause when the curtain went up, for a good 15 seconds, but no one stood up. Did people in the mezz stand?

Wtf, the cuts don't make any sense. Put them back!

I want to hear more about Petkoff as Tateh!

---

The cuts were all made for time at the demand of the new producers.
As for the few (one person) slamming the director yet praising the performances...um, you do realize that those performances are a tribute to the Director--the performers I have spoken to all praise her directing--those perfomances are the way they are BECAUSE the director cast those actors, directed those actors towards those performances or chose to allow those actors to perform that way without directing them to be different- either way, it is all direction.
Not sure how a long list of regional credits proves anything one way or the other about whether she is the right person to direct this show. The list shows she has been working a lot for a long time in places other than Broadway: that is all it "proves." Sorry you did not care for her work here- apparently you are in the minority or at least, many others don't share your "taste." She was hand picked by Ahrens and Flaherty -- and Doctorow and McNally supposedly loved the DC version...but what do they know compared to LaCageauxFollesFan?

adamgreer -

I don't think you and Chita are talking about the same moments.

Chita was referring to the standing ovation that occurred when the curtain fell after the Act II finale but before the curtain call began.

I was in Row J of the orchestra and I instantly was on my feet when the curtain went down as were the people directly behind me, next to me and in front of me. I am not terribly liberal with curtain calls, and I will stubbornly be the one person sitting in the house when I feel a show did not move me to stand. This show was one of the rare times I was truly moved to jump to my feet when the curtain fell.

I think you may be referring to the extended applause that occurred when the curtain went up at the top of the show.

---

There's some...they are selling a window card, two shirts with the logo (one is yellow and one is white), a mug, a hoodie, the vocal selections, and the original book (I believe). I'm sure there will be more but they have a decent selection right now.

A few people (including my dad hahaha) stood up in the mezz after Till We Reach That Day. There was an instant standing ovation after the curtain came down at the end of the show.

"For those of you who saw both this show and the La Cage Aux Folles in London, which do you prefer?"

That is such a random comparison, lol. NIGHT MUSIC will be compared to LA CAGE more, as they both are small productions being transferred from the same place.

Updated On: 10/24/09 at 01:00 PM

Of course.
But at this point we have no idea that those two will be the frontrunners. Why not ask how Ragtime compares to Finian's, Night Music, AND La Cage? It just seemed random to only ask about La Cage.

I know you weren't, lol. I just did not understand the motivation behind his question.