Who actually saw RAGTIME?- Page 4

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 4:44pm

"Donna Bullock's more human Mother to Marin Mazzie's Mother-as-Superwoman performance. OTOH, Michael Rupert was miscast as Tateh. "

That is exactly why I preferred Bullock to Mazzie. Mazzie was wonderful, and had the stronger voice, by far, but I felt Bullock's performance was much more, well, motherly. Mother's transition from complacent housewife to modern woman was much more evident and believable with Bullock. Mazzie always seemed ready to go off the deep end at any moment.

As for Tateh, I never cared for Michael Rupert (or his accent). I found John Rubinstein to be the definitive Tateh.

Someone else was asking about the PBS special...that was a "Making of" that was broadcast before the opening. It was called "Creating Ragtime" and was narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. I traced the creation of the show, and also spent a good deal of time discussing the then brand new Ford Center for the Performing Arts. It featured plent of footage from the show, and interviews with most of the principals (specifically, Stokes and Audra). It was informative and well-produced. Sadly, it was never commercially released, and to my knowledge never re-broadcast.

[Joelbeans]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 4:53pm

The first time I saw it, and the only time I saw it on Broadway (I saw it twice on tour) I was pumped to go see it. We got there and dammit if I didn't have little sheets falling out of my program. Everyone from the original cast was understudied, of the leads, except Tateh. I was so excited to see Marin, Audra, Brian, and NOOOOOOOOO. It was sort of funny cause every shoe we went to that weekend had unsderstudies. Scarlet Pimpernel the only lead that was there was Terrance Mann, and in Les Miz (the first time) I think all the female understudies were on. It was a freaky weekend, but hey there were "Broadway" shows, so I couldn't complain.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/12/06 at 5:23pm

Which understudies did you get? Did you get Duane Martin Foster as Coalhouse? I'd be interested to hear how he was if you did. Also, did you get Mrs. Stokes Mitchell, Allyson Tucker, as Sarah? She understudied the role for awhile. I never saw her (I saw Tonya Dixon play Sarah once...she was awful). How about Mother? Patty Goble was an excellent Mother, I know she went on at least a few times. Roberta Diechak also went on at least a few times as well.