Ragtime Last Night (3/6/26)

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 12:53pm

It was a phenomenal performance, but a lot of very interesting occurrences!

• The show started a half hour late! I heard both “technical difficulties” and “unforeseen circumstances”- does anyone know what happened?
• The understudy board in the lobby listed an understudy on as Sarah, but the slip in the playbill did not, and I’m 99% sure it was Nichelle playing the role.
• Understudy Marina Kondo on as Evelyn Nesbitt- she was excellent and it seemed like a purposeful choice to have her not appear as white-presenting in that particular role. I’m really glad I saw her since by just her appearance it gave a very different take on the role.
• A well-deserved (and completely unexpected) mid-show standing ovation after “Wheels of a Dream”, and some people stood after “Back to Before” and “Make Them Hear You”. 
• My only “criticism” of the production (if one could even call it that) is that the ensemble just seemed to have a tad too few people- for example, Jacob Keith Watson was a very distinctive Willie Conklin and then played multiple other characters within minutes. 

[Ensemble17591322022]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 12:59pm

Yes I think it really needed four more ensemble people to get away from the “39 Steps” vibe. 

The problem with a standing ovation is that it only takes one person to stand with forces every person behind them to stand, in order to see. And then anyone who CAN still see with no one standing in front of them feels guilty, so they stand, and the people behind THEM must stand. 

I don’t think I’ve genuinely stood in the last ten years during one. They’ve all been in order to see. I wonder what percentage of yesterday’s Ragtime crowd around you would have stood if nobody else had. 

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 1:18pm

The Beaumont has a steep rake in the house. It's not too hard to see past folk standing in front of you, esp during a show when the ovation doesn't last long.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 1:44pm

When I saw the show in November, there was a 40-minute technical hold right before "Getting Ready Rag."

[ER765]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 1:52pm

Ensemble17591322022 said: "The problem with a standing ovation is that it only takes one person to stand with forces every person behind them to stand, in order to see. And then anyone who CAN still see with no one standing in front of them feels guilty, so they stand, and the people behind THEM must stand.

I don’t think I’ve genuinely stood in the last ten years during one. They’ve all been in order to see. I wonder what percentage of yesterday’s Ragtime crowd around you would have stood if nobody else had."

Huh…? To see…what? The performer is just standing there, holding a pose normally. No one has a gun pointed at your head forcing you to get up. 

Also, as mentioned, the stage is generally raked. I’ve never stood up for a collective/majority standing ovation to “see.” If I don’t want to stand, I don’t. You’re not missing anything by sitting…

Updated On: 3/7/26 at 01:52 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 2:32pm

A well-deserved (and completely unexpected) mid-show standing ovation after “Wheels of a Dream”

Unexpected? It get a standing ovation every night. 

The problem with a standing ovation is that it only takes one person to stand with forces every person behind them to stand, in order to see. And then anyone who CAN still see with no one standing in front of them feels guilty, so they stand, and the people behind THEM must stand. 

That's the dumbest comment in history. When I stood for them the people behind me did not stand and shockingly, nobody cared or commented.

 

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 2:47pm

Sutton Ross said: "A well-deserved (and completely unexpected) mid-show standing ovation after “Wheels of a Dream”

Unexpected? It get a standing ovation every night.


Yes, it was unexpected! How would one know it regularly gets a standing ovation if they haven’t seen this production before? I have been in a production of Ragtime and seen another and have never seen nor even heard of that song getting a standing ovation.

 

[Ensemble17591322022]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 2:47pm

“Huh…? To see…what? The performer is just standing there, holding a pose normally. No one has a gun pointed at your head forcing you to get up.”

Some people like to see the performers even after the song is over. Some people might want to see them break the pose and move to the next moment. Some people might be worried about missing the entrance of other characters because the people standing take too long to sit down.

LOTS OF REASONS. PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF REASONS FOR THINGS. MANY PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM MIGHT LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AND THEY MAY LOVE THE THEATRE SO MUCH THAT THEY DON’T WANT THEIR VIEW BLOCKED AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS LIFE ACCORDING TO “MEEEEEEEEEEEE”

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 3:02pm

Jesus Christ.

[ER765]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 3:38pm

Ensemble17591322022 said: "“Huh…? To see…what? The performer is just standing there, holding a pose normally. No one has a gun pointed at your head forcing you to get up.”

Some people like to see the performers even after the song is over. Some people might want to see them break the pose and move to the next moment. Some people might be worried about missing the entrance of other characters because the people standing take too long to sit down.

LOTS OF REASONS. PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF REASONS FOR THINGS. MANY PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM MIGHT LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AND THEY MAY LOVE THE THEATRE SO MUCH THAT THEY DON’T WANT THEIR VIEW BLOCKEDAND IT’S NOT ALWAYS LIFE ACCORDING TO “MEEEEEEEEEEEE”"

Once again, seek help. 

[abcd12]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 10:05pm

Ensemble17591322022 said: "IT’S NOT ALWAYS LIFE ACCORDING TO “MEEEEEEEEEEEE”"

…says the person complaining that their view is blocked when fellow audience members feel compelled to give a standing ovation. 

[Ensemble17591322022]

Posted: 3/7/26 at 10:37pm

abcd12 said: "Ensemble17591322022 said: "IT’S NOT ALWAYS LIFE ACCORDING TO “MEEEEEEEEEEEE”"

…says the person complaining that their view is blocked when fellow audience members feel compelled to give a standing ovation."

Pretty reasonable to complain if a view is blocked. Any theatre goer knows that’s annoying when the operative word is “see” a show. 

Do your arms hurt from reaching? 

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/9/26 at 2:16pm

When I saw the show in November, "Wheels of A Dream" received a standing O.  It wasn't unexpected - it was deserved.  It was an incredible performance.  

Yes, supporting roles also do ensemble, as well.  It's been that way since the show first opened in Toronto in December 1996, almost 30 years ago.  This includes the LA production, then NYC, and all the various tours.  In addition to Willy, Grandfather also doubles in the ensemble. 

Updated On: 3/9/26 at 02:16 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/9/26 at 5:45pm

It was so deserved, Neal. I don't know about your performance, but towards the end of that song, I could feel people just itching to leap out of their seats. It was so powerful, and they both deeply appreciated it.

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 3/9/26 at 6:57pm

nealb1 said: "When I saw the show in November, "Wheels of A Dream" received a standing O. It wasn't unexpected - it was deserved. It was an incredible performance.

Yes, supporting roles also do ensemble, as well. It's been that way since the show first opened in Toronto in December 1996, almost 30 years ago. This includes the LA production, then NYC, and all the various tours. In addition to Willy, Grandfather also doubles in the ensemble."

Totally! Multiple things can be true- for me it was both incredibly well deserved (I leapt out of my seat, myself) and unexpected (a song in the middle of the first act that has not been previously known to receive a standing ovation).

And yes, I am aware that that is how Ragtime is always staged- my point is that in this particular case, it was extremely noticeable to the extent that it was jarring in a way that it has not been in previous productions. A couple of extra bodies on the stage (meaning quite literally 2-3) would have made a big difference.