Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime

[Reverie]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:09pm

I recently read Ragtime (the novel) and afterwards was kind of disappointed at the Broadway interpretation of Evelyn. In the novel I find her interesting and sympathetic, but in the stage version her character is vague and almost pointless to the story. Anyone else feel similar?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:22pm

My High School's (LaGuardia Arts aka the "Fame School") production of Ragtime opens on Thursday.
IMO, the character of Evelyn is crucial to the show, because she is Younger Bro's motivation to find a meaning to life, which leads to him discovering and becoming one of Coalhouse's men. Without Evelyn, the story wouldn't exist. I do agree that it is underwritten, though.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:40pm

How much more do you want her to do? She has her on song and several featured moments. Sarah only has 2 songs herself. It's a three hour show there just isn't room for more Nesbit. She's not the focus. I think it's pretty balanced. By the way, Evelyn really isn't the reason Younger Brother joins Coalhouse's men. The reason he joins is all in He Wanted to Say.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:46pm

Yes, but he would have never wandered the streets, looking for Coalhouse had Evelyn not changed his views and general opinion of people.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:46pm

double post Updated On: 12/3/06 at 06:46 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:53pm

In the musical, the "real" (historical)characters aren't meant to be three-dimentional. They are used as symbols. Houdini symbolizes the immigrant escaping oppression. Evelyn symbolizes American's obsession with celebrity.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:59pm

And JP Morgan represents racism and repression.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:23pm

bwaylvsong, Are you talking about the book or the musical because in the book he did go looking for Evelyn, but in the musical it was his encounter with Emma Goldman and his contempt for father that really led him out to search for Coalhouse in the 2nd act.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:49pm

I suppose that after reading the book, I made assertions on the musical.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 9:58pm

I first read the book about 6 years ago when I was in the 5th grade and I didn't understand ANYTHING about the relationship between Evelyn and Younger Brother (obviously) but even then she was my favorite character in the book because I understood that she was helping Tateh and his little girl, and she was trying to escape her life the best she could.

When I listened to the musical and played Evelyn in a production I did of Ragtime, the character made a LOT more sense I think. I couldn't find much about Evelyn Nesbit in my research as to her personality, but I don't think she would have really chilled with the immigrants.

She's on long enough to motivate Younger Brother and that's good enough. I've seen Evelyn's who were terrible but it didn't matter because they weren't on long, and I've seen Evelyn's who were really imprinting. They weren't on for long and yet at the end of the show I remembered them really well. If played right, she's unforgettable.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 10:07pm

What did Evelyn have to do with the immigrants? Are you thinking of Emma Goldman?

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 10:08pm

No, in the novel Evelyn helps take care of Tateh's little girl when she is sick. Then she sort of forms a bond with Tateh until he discovers who she is.