the people called it Ragtime...- Page 2

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 6:35pm

Nope, it was a TYTE production.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 7:20pm

My friend was in the papermill production, that is what got me hooked. I saw it with the original cast on broadway, and way back then, it wasn't my cup of tea.

[queenbee2]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 9:34pm

It's a shame this show was not a financial success, because artistically it was a beautiful piece of theater. Stunning melodies, beautiful stage craft and GREAT performances (at least the two times I saw it). This show came along when I was starting to loose faith that there were still good shows out there. I'd love to see a revival, although perhaps it's a bit too soon. Make us wait for it, and then blow us away again!

-QB

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 9:08am

I'd like to respectfully disagree about "Back to Before", Ben.

In the novel, it takes place as everything this woman has ever known is falling in around her. Her husband has become distant, and changed. She is growing increasingly attracted to Tateh. And, she's decided she is going to race an African-American baby as her own. Coupled with this is the growing movement for women to get the right to vote. On top of all of this, she is not in the comforts of New Rochelle anymore, she's in Atlantic City, so not only is the world itself changing, but her physical and emotional world is too. This is Mother's moment to shine, turning it into an ensemble piece would ruin the moment. That, and I just think the show needs a few more solos.

Updated On: 3/5/07 at 09:08 AM

[musicalkid]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 9:42am

My answer abouth the boy-knows-future thing:

i believe the children in the show represent America's future. the show ends with a vision of black-jewish-white gang of children, "getting into trouble, getting out of trouble but together!" and the little boy (unnamed in the novel, and named Edgar in the musical, as if setting the novel's author as the ephocal point of view of the show) knows the future, "warn the duke", "we know those people-well, we're going to know them" "and one more will be dead by tonight", to signify he embodies the future, and the dream of a united american population.

my theory.

[FosseForever3]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 12:13pm

I'm not sure about the musical (which I am obsessed with, by the way) but I'm almost POSITIVE that the Little Boy IS E.L. Doctorow (as someone mentioned earlier). Why you ask? I think there are many many moments that support my theory:
-he collects other people's trash
-the mirror chapter
-the ice skating chapter
-his "psychic" abilities
there are others, but I think all these character traits point to a person who will grow up to be a brilliant writer or intellectual of some sort :)

[thenewmoon]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 1:04pm

The Little Boy in EL Doctorow's novel "World's Fair" (which is excellent, btw) is named Edgar.
The "warn the Duke" bit is actually based on the historical Houdini's recollection-- it really happened (not that a boy was psychic, but that a little boy really said that to Houdini, and its meaning became clear to him much later). A lifelong skeptic, this was the only supernatural episode he ever experienced.
I recently re-watched the non-musical movie of Ragtime (which has a surprisingly subtle score by Randy Newman). It's a fascinating study in contrasts and really amazing how different it is from the book... the movie is maybe about 50% true to the novel and the musical is about 90%.
I saw a simply phenomenal regional staging in Thousand Oaks, CA two years ago and have loved it since. I can't wait for the NYCO version!