RAGTIME REVIEWS- Page 3

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 5:05pm

Thanks, Dottie. What a pity if the first family doesn't attend. It's so poignant that Ragtime is being staged in DC at this time in our history.

Goalkeeper, the minimalist concept at Paper Mill was something that I liked, as well, for the same reasons you describe. The focus was on the people, not the production. The emotional wallop was tremendous. And the way the opening number was staged to suggest the clash of cultures was breathtaking. The Henry Ford assembly line using straight-backed chairs in motion was so innovative, too.

That production also had a fantastic cast. Quentin Earl Darrington as Coalhouse, Kenita Miller as Sarah, Neal Benari as Tateh, Rachel York as Mother, David Hess as Father, and Shonn Wiley as Younger Brother. Who wouldn't want to play those roles and sing those songs?

The show is truly inspirational.

[NGeorgiaBwayFan]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 8:07pm

Well, I saw the show on Sunday night. I'd never seen Ragtime before, only vids of the OBC from the Tonys and I have joined the ranks of those who are totally in love with this show.

WOW! It was fantastically cast and beautifully performed. A very strong ensemble, indeed.

I loved Quentin Earl Darrington. You really fell in love with his portrayal of Coalhouse. Jennlee Shallow was great as Sarah, too. Ron Bohmer and Christiane Noll were just wonderful, too. (I think I read some folks were saying you couldn't understand her over the orchestra, but the night I was there, I had no trouble. I agree with one of the earlier reviewers that the chemistry between her and Manoel Felciano was palpable. I really love Leigh Ann Larkin, and I have to say that she was adorable and hilarious in her role as Evelyn Nesbitt -- so good to see her career continuing ahead.

I recall that there was a lot of doubt about some of this cast and their ability to perform these roles, but I think they have put all of that to rest. Good for them!

For whoever said that something must be going around in the cast, I can tell you that at the stagedoor on Sunday night, Quentin came out carrying a humidifier and Jennlee sounded like she was not feeling very well, either. I noticed that the two of them and some others of the cast were not dressed for the Kennedy Center Gala after party that most of the cast was attending.

GO SEE THIS SHOW IF YOU CAN!
I am very thankful that I was able to go. It was my first time at the Kennedy Center at all. What a glorious venue! You gotta go.

Best wishes to the entire cast for continued success in this run.

[kec]

Posted: 5/8/09 at 9:29pm

I hadn't gotten round to getting a ticket for this, but after reading all the comments here and seeing that Peter Marks actually loved the show, I got myself a ticket for next Saturday night.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/9/09 at 4:37am

Sadly, I'm going to have to give up on seeing this, since it is over the 17th
So, here's hoping it will go to Broadway, soon!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/9/09 at 9:43am

bwaybabe, sorry you won't get to see this. I went again last night and this production just keeps getting better and better. Great performances all around, wonderfully responsive audience that was on their feet as soon as the curtain came down.

I had a very brief conversation with Quentin last night and told him how his performance has grown by leaps and bounds since the Papermill production in 2005.

Also very happy that Jennlee Shallow was on as Sarah. What a beautiful voice and presence she has.

Updated On: 5/9/09 at 09:43 AM

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 9:25pm

Well, I finally saw Ragtime today, and I was completely blown away. My expectations were extremely high after these great reviews, but the show surpassed them in almost every way-- except one. Just like every Kennedy Center show I've seen, the orchestra completely overpowered the singers (particularly on "Make Them Hear You"), and a lot of the dialogue was swallowed up by the performance space. Then again, I was sitting near the back, and I have notoriously terrible hearing.

The sets and staging were perfect, in my opinion-- I almost feel like they're minimalistic, even though they're so huge, but they definitely served their purpose without distracting from the characters.

Quentin Earl Darrington was an extremely good Coalhouse. His voice is beautiful to listen to, but his acting was what I really appreciated. He just had the hugest stage presence, and I was amazed at how he could go from being the warmest, most loveable guy to someone who is truly intimidating. The only flaw, to me, in his performance is how he sometimes takes breaths in weird places when he sings, but that was barely noticeable. I was also really impressed by Jennlee Shallow, who I knew nothing about. I hope both of them go on to do big things and get great roles on Broadway.

That said, I think my favorites were Ron Bohmer and Bobby Steggert. I can't imagine Bohmer as Sir Percy Blakeney, because he had such a deep resonant voice here. I wished his role was bigger in the show, because I enjoyed every second of his performance-- and I actually felt really sympathetic for Father, which I never did before. Bobby Steggert just gave me shivers up and down my spine-- he was so intense all the time, and his voice was gorgeous, a lot better than the guy on the OBC, in my opinion.

Manoel Felciano definitely impressed me. At first, I was ambivalent about his performance-- I thought it was good, but not really out of the ordinary-- and then he came out in Act Two in that nice suit, and POW. He's just incredibly charming. Tateh always kind of irritated me on the OBC-- I just never connected to him. But here, I could really see the charisma that made Mother fall in love with him. I thought Christiane Noll was by far the best actor of the cast, which is saying something. I have to admit, her voice is not exactly my cup of tea for Mother, being used to Marin Mazzie, but she can certainly act her way through a song, and she made me feel whatever she felt. I love how she delivered all of her lines completely differently from Marin Mazzie (and I thought she actually made mother a more compelling character). Sarah's Friend also had a stunning voice.

I have two more minor gripes about the production-- first of all, I really wished they could have more choreography for the Henry Ford number. It's such an energetic song, and I felt like it was kind of a wasted moment here. Also... I have a question about Emma Goldman. Did she, in history, have a serious speech impediment that Donna Migliaccio was replicating, or does Ms. Migliaccio just have a lisp? That distracted me a little bit throughout the show, but otherwise, her performance was very strong.

Updated On: 5/10/09 at 09:25 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 9:37pm

I don't have too much to add, because I'm in the minority in that I don't know the show inside and out, so I don't have much to compare this to in terms of other performances, or my preferences, or how I think things should be. I did see the show on Broadway, but I don't remember it very well because I was too young to appreciate it, and I have the album, but other than a few songs that I really love, I can't say I listen to it very often. But for whatever it's worth, I loved this production; I thought it was beautifully directed and that the somewhat scaled down approach was a very smart, effective way to go. The performances were all-around fantastic, special shout-out to Mano, whose performance was beautiful, moving, and utterly phenomenal. I'm glad I finally saw the show again, and thrilled that my re-introduction to this great piece was through such a great production.

(And oh my God, the Kennedy Center is GLORIOUS. This was the first time I'd been there.)

Updated On: 5/10/09 at 09:37 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:16pm

I just got in from this evening's performance. This was the first time I had seen it from the orchestra; and from the 3rd row no less. It's definitely a different perspective being up close and I really liked being able to see the facial expressions on the actors.

Schmerg, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. IMO, Marin Mazzie was my favorite "Mother" until I saw Christiane Noll in this production. I really like her voice. This was my 5th time seeing this production and she has never failed to give me chills when she sings, "Back to Before". I'll be there one more time for the closing performance next Sunday night.

The one thing I noticed is that Quentin doesn't have any costume changes. He wears the same suit throughout the entire show, whereas everyone else has several changes (with the exception of Emma Goldman).

Sally Struthers was there this evening. I saw her on my way out.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:42pm

Was tonight Manoel Feliciano's final performance?

[cglaid]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:47pm

DottieD'Luscia - Sally Struthers certainly moves quickly. She was at 9 to 5 last night. Saw her entering and exiting the stage door. As of around 11 pm last night, she was in NYC.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/10/09 at 11:53pm

cglaid, I guess Sally gets around!! I know it was her because I heard one of the ushers ask her. She had a "boot" or plastic cast on one of her legs.

Yes, tonight was Manoel's last performance. The cast clapped for him when he came out for his bow. He and Christiane were hugging each other as the curtain came down. It was very sweet.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 12:07am

One of the ushers asked her to her face "Are you Sally Struthers?" That's not proper usher etiquette is it?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 12:41am

It's definitely a different perspective being up close and I really liked being able to see the facial expressions on the actors.

I thought the same thing. While I think the better view of the show is from upstairs, I saw it from the orchestra for the first time last night. There were a few times where the facial expressions on the actors took my breath away, like when Sarah sees Colehouse at the end of New Music, or Mother's Younger Brother during the Night that Goldman Spoke- a moment that has always been one of my favorites in the show (see below)- but Bobby Steggert had this expression of ecstatic clarity when he finally realized what his life could be that gave me chills. If only I could afford the box seats and get the best of both worlds.

Updated On: 5/11/09 at 12:41 AM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 1:12am

Dottie, I'm going next Saturday, May 16 to the matinee. Can't wait. (Maybe I'll see you there?)

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 6:18am

Marin Mazzie was my favorite "Mother" until I saw Christiane Noll in this production. I really like her voice

Christiane Noll is my favorite Mother now, too. I just... prefer the tone of Marin Mazzie's voice-- I think it sounds more mature. But I think Christiane's line delivery is leaps and bounds above Marin Mazzie's... she just seems to become the character so well.

When my sister and I were waiting in line for the restroom, my sister was saying, "I LOVED Mother, I thought she was way better than the girl on the CD," and I just said, "Yeah, she was a fantastic actress," because I felt it would be rude to say I didn't like her voice as much. And I was SO glad I said that, because the lady in front of us in line turned out to be a good friend of Christiane's! (And she asked us to spoil the rest of the show for her because she wanted to know what would happen.)

I kind of wish I could have sat up closer. It was hard for me to see Mano's face sometimes, because he tends to look down or straight ahead when he acts. But I like having a panoramic view, too.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 7:09am

Miss P., next Saturday is probably one of the few times that I WON'T be there!! Christiane Noll will be out for both performances then as she has a prior commitment. It was noted on the KC website. Although I'm seeing the final performance next Sunday night, I might possibly see the matinee as well.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 8:09am

Dottie, you should go to both the Sunday matinee and evening performances!! (i sure would if I were living in DC)

This show is outstanding!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 8:28am

Just checked the website, there are tickets for the matinee next Sunday, so who knows!!

[DANLOW]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 4:49pm

Schmerg...., I absolutely agree with your description of the incredibly fine cast of "Ragtime". But oh, you did make me laugh when you asked about DC's lovely Donna Migliaccio. Yes, the lisp does belongs to Donna. I first saw Donna in 1992 as Sarah Jane Moore in "Assassins". Over the years she has played many roles around DC including Rose in "Gypsy" at Signature. About 2 years ago Donna performed at Metro Stage in "The Musical of Musical (The Musical)". Of course she did the star turn in the "Hello,Dolly!" number. I still smile when I think about that performance.

For now and evermore, in my book, Emma Goldman has a lisp. You go, Donna!

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 4:59pm

Here is my interview with Christiane Noll and Bobby Steggert.

To read all the RAGTIME reviews, click on "REVIEWS" and then "THEIR REVIEWS".
Interview with Christiane Noll and Bobby STeggert on DC Theatre Scene

[Oldschool]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 7:16pm

I'm with those that prefer Christiane to Marin Mazzie. I agree that Mazzie's voice sounds more "mature" in terms of presenting age. However, my preference for Ms. Noll's presentation is that it is seamless and beautifully effortless. Mazzie works every word and it sounds labored to me. In the context of the show, vocally, Mazzie's voice doesn't move the character along whereas Noll's bears the timbre of someone moving along, someone ready for change.

[DANLOW]

Posted: 5/13/09 at 3:16pm

From an article today in the Washington Post:

"...-- the critically praised, $4.4 million production is selling out the Eisenhower Theater and has sparked serious negotiations for a move to Broadway --..."


The Rarest Role in Musicals? The Female Director

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/13/09 at 3:22pm

I saw that. It would be wonderful if this production transferred to Broadway. I picked up a ticket during my lunchbreak to see the show again on Friday.

[NGeorgiaBwayFan]

Posted: 5/13/09 at 3:24pm

Good for them! I hope they make it to Broadway!