Ragtime - Washington, DC - Wow!!- Page 2

[rjjn]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:30am

Well, I just got back from the final performance, and my sentiments match the title of this thread, so I'll just put my review here.

I had never seen this show before, but heard amazing things about this production. People were buzzing about it here in the DC area. It definitely lived up to all the hype.

Quentin Earl Darrington as Coalhouse Walker Jr. was truly amazing. His emotional range was unmatched in the cast.

Christiane Noll as Mother stole the show for me. She portrayed the conflict in her character perfectly, and has an amazing singing voice!

Jonathan Hammond was on for Tateh this performance, and I couldn't tell he was an understudy. Though his accent seemed to come and go occasionally, the emotion he put into the role was amazing.

Jennlee Shallow as Sarah also had an amazing emotional range, though her voice was a bit nasally for me.

Christopher Cox as The Little Boy was cute and funny, though he overacted a bit.

Leigh Ann Larkin as Evelyn Nesbit redeemed herself for me. I didn't care much for her Gypsy performance, but she fit this role perfectly.

Bobby Steggert as Mother's Younger Brother was amazing, especially during the bank scene at the end.

Ron Bohmer as Father was a little dull for me, though that might just be how the role was written.

Overall an absolutely wonderful production, which leaves me amazed that The Lion King (which I also saw at the Kennedy Center a few months ago) won the Tony...Crossing my fingers for the rumored transfer!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 3:55am

I understand why the songs are there, but that doesn't mean that they work or are the "right" song for that particular moment.

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 4:31am

I am kicking myself for not being able to see this/not realizing that it was closing last night. Is there any truth in a Broadway transfer, or is it just your wishful thinking?

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 4:41am

Ah, nevermind. Just saw this link: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129213-Will_the_Kennedy_Center_Ragtime_Play_Broadway%3F

Really really hope to see this show on Broadway. I was 8 when the show first came around, and I love it. Would be great to see a revival on Broadway. I remember I made a thread a few months ago back in November hoping for one.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 8:14am

Looking back at the final performance last night, the audience was probably the least responsive in terms of all the performances I attended (though they were very enthusiastic during the curtain call).

It was interesting to watch Ron Bohmer as Father as he only sang his lines during New Music, but didn't sing when everyone else did. He was also the only one not to sing during Til We Reach That Day. Not sure if that's a director's choice, or if it's in the script, but it works.

I sat in the orchesta 2x and the balcony 5. My best seat was O14; close enough to see their faces, yet far enough back to take in a complete stage picture.

It was truly a very special production and although I realize that all shows must close, this one will be missed by me. It will be interesting to see if the rumored Broadway transfer ever transpires.

Updated On: 5/18/09 at 08:14 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:50pm

I thought the same thing about the audience last night. Lines that got laughs or reactions every other time didn't. Someone loudly coughed over Willy Conklin's first use of the n-word, so that didn't elicit as much of a response either. It was subdued.

I suppose it's for the best it's closing. My checking account is waving a white flag. Last night I found myself noticing that one of the ensemble girls is hung up on Colehouse, and one of his gang members is left handed. That was more obvious because the actor was holding the shotgun in the opposite position as normal, but if I'm noticing real or imagined subplots in the ensemble, I probably need a break. I wish it could have run longer so I didn't have to squeeze in my fill in the span of a month, but I loved every time as much as the first.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 12:58pm

Orangeskittles, LOL. I totally understand. I found myself focusing on the ensemble last night though didn't notice the person hung up on Coalhouse! By the way, where did you sit? I was front row center balcony. It was apparent that the woman next to me had never seen this show before as she was quite taken by surprise by Coalhouses demise at the end.

I saw Carrie Johnson (Mother understudy) on in one of the ensemble tracks last night, so I found myself watching someone new.

One thing that was disappointing is they didn't bring the curtain up for another curtain call. I thought last night they would have done that for the last performance.

Updated On: 5/18/09 at 12:58 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 5:15pm

Yes, Brigette the maid. I noticed that too.

During the Harlem Nightclub scene, I noticed one actress was standing over Colehouse when everyone else had paired off. Another guy grabbed her and pulled her over and she tried to resist, then danced with him while staring over her shoulder at Colehouse. During Gettin' Ready Rag, she was the one who danced one-on-one with Colehouse. Then after Sarah Brown Eyes, she was the one waiting by the lamp post back in "reality". The fact that it was the same actress the whole time seemed intentional.

I also noticed that the black ensemble members where the ones who loaded the Crime of the Century on and offstage, and they all wait on the stairs during the "show". That's when I started to pay more attention to the ensemble, because a lot of their direction seemed more deliberate than I had previously assumed. In the Night that Goldman Spoke scene, the black lady tailors are all on the opposite platform as the white lady tailors and Tateh. The black ensemble is always on the third floor in the New Rochelle house scenes, while the white ensemble is on the second floor. I had a whole list in my head that I came up with on the Metro ride home after a show one night.


I was in row C center balcony. I probably stared over the top of your head the whole show and didn't know it was you!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 5:46pm

I guess I should have asked ahead of time where you'd be sitting.

I didn't notice the black ensemble on the stairs in "Crime of the Century" until I sat on the other side of the Eisenhower. From the balcony you can't tell that there's actually a 4th tier to the set. It just looked like a staircase to nowhere. I finally saw the top tier when I sat in the orchestra.

I did notice that Coalhouse is the only one who doesn't change his costume. Can't figure out why that is - it just didn't make any sense.

I didn't notice Emma Goldman's lisp until Schmerg pointed it out and then I couldn't help but notice it!!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 5:50pm

Whoa, Orangeskittles! I was balcony 2, row B... I probably saw you and didn't even know it!

I didn't notice Emma Goldman's lisp until Schmerg pointed it out and then I couldn't help but notice it!!
It's funny, I didn't notice it until my sister said, "She's doing the lisp on purpose, right?" after her first speech in the opening number, and then it seemed so distracting! Maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:05pm

I did notice the 4th tier. I sat on the far left side of the balcony once and saw it. It is odd- why include it if it serves no purpose?

Did you ever notice the stuffed deer head at the top of the bunting that comes down during Mr. President? That was really random.


Schmerg, where you with a group of women on the aisle? If so, I was sitting behind you. It sucks we were all so close and didn't know it. Next time I see a show, I'm wearing a nametag with my screen name.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:37pm

Schmerg, I had no idea you were going to be there last night. I was in A105. I think I was one of the first ones to stand in my row during the curtain call.

Orangeskittles, I believe Coalhouse used the top tier one time during the 2nd act. I noticed that when I sat in the orchestra. Yes, I saw the deer head in the patriotic bunting.

Are either one of you going to see Spring Awakening? I'll be there Saturday matinee, July 18.

[Broadwaylover26]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:49pm

Does anyone know if this Ragtime production is definitely coming to Broadway? I haven't heard anything about a transfer, but I definitely could have missed it.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 7:55pm

As of now the possible transfer is just speculation. Nothing official has been announced.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 10:38pm

Sounds like a terrific production. I saw the Broadway mounting 10 years ago, and loved it. (I still think it should have won the Tony over LION KING but whatevs).

I did get to see Christiane Noll at the NJPAC on Saturday, May 16th. She and three other singers -- Robert Evan, Doug Labrecque and Capathia Jenkins -- presented songs from musicals that were either popular in Britain or imports from the U.S. that did well in the West End.

CN was marvelous. She handled the title song of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA quite effortlessly, and she was a delight to meet after the concert.

I wish I'd seen her in RAGTIME. I'd kill to hear her version of BACK TO BEFORE...

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 10:43pm

Here is my interview with Christiane Noll and Bobby Steggert on DC Theatre Scene. I hope you enjoy it.
CHRISTIANE NOLL AND BOBBY STEGGERT INTERVIEW ON DC THEATRE SCENE

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 10:45pm

Here is Alex kafka's review on DC Theatre Scene:
ALEX KAFKA REVIEW OF RAGTIME ON DC THEATRE SCENE

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 10:46pm

jsg, so glad you got to speak to Christiane. I waited twice at the stagedoor for her to sign the Ragtime poster, but she never came out!!

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/18/09 at 10:48pm

I am hoping the show comes to NYC so you can all see what we loved at The Kennedy Center.
Joel's Theatre Schmooze Column on DC Theatre Scene Updated On: 5/18/09 at 10:48 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 12:13am

I'm not a fan of Spring Awakening. I had planned to see The Color Purple, as I never saw it on Broadway, but of course, Fantasia had to join the tour. She was the reason why I avoided seeing it. It may be awhile before I'm back at the Kennedy Center.

Next is finding the motivation to trek all the way out to Shirlington for Giant.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 1:01am

See. Giant. Please. It's a marathon piece of theater at the moment, but it is definitely a fascinating work that is going places. Bloated, but utterly stunning.

And Christiane's "Back to Before" was divine!

Updated On: 5/19/09 at 01:01 AM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 2:56am

As much as I would love to see RAGTIME back on Broadway there is one big problem: Brantley HATED the show the first time around. (There were suspicions he was pissed off that Toronto and L.A. critics had sent the show to New York with such strong endorsements and was out to stem that tide. He admitted many of the elements were strong but he found the whole thing "resistible.")

Without support from the NY Times the revival - no matter how good - would face an uphill battle.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 5:04am

"I am hoping the show comes to NYC so you can all see what we loved at The Kennedy Center."

hockenut2...so am I! I'm still bummed out that I could not catch in when in DC recently :[

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 7:43am

orangeskittles, I never saw Spring Awakening during its Broadway run and for $25 I didn't want to pass it up in DC. Apparently The Color Purple is selling very well. All the $25 tickets are gone and there are several performances already sold out.

Now I'm going through Ragtime withdrawal.

Updated On: 5/19/09 at 07:43 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 5/19/09 at 12:56pm

Actr, I want to, but it's an hour and a half drive in average traffic. It will take a bit more planning and effort than just hopping on the Metro after work.

Frontrowcentre, I did consider that. When Ragtime opened, it received pretty mixed reviews and only since then has it developed a following. I wonder if, considering how musicals have (de)volved since 1998, people would who wrote it off then would appreciate it more when compared with the Legally Blonde, Shrek and Spiderman shows that have taken over Broadway since. They didn't know how good they had it then, heh.