JT Lynch photo
In a wild parade that
brings together our most personal controversies of the fabled “melting pot,” a maelstrom
of vignettes weaves the main characters of an African-American family, a
European Jewish immigrant and his daughter, and an upper middle class WASP
family. The triumphs, the traumas, and
the lessons not yet learned are striking reminders that we have evolved only a
little.
The production is vibrant and entertaining, with direction
that makes the most of the unique attributes of this kind of montage
storytelling—with luminaries including
Houdini, Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, Evelyn Nesbitt and others wandering through
the tale. It helps to be familiar with
the history of this period before World War I, because the intelligent script
fortunately does not “dumb down” the material, and the audience must be sharp
to catch all the references as we are shown pieces of a great puzzle that makes
up America at this most exciting period.
The large, multigenerational cast is excellent, both
featured players and ensemble work seamlessly in multiple roles. Especially noteworthy was Darnell Abraham as
Coalhouse Walker, Jr., the Harlem ragtime piano player who finds love, success,
and heartbreak in a society that has not advanced as quickly as he has; Zurin
Villanueva as Sarah, Coalhouse’s love and the victim of tragedy. Both were deeply moving in expressing their
love, their dreams and goals, their heartache, and thrilled the audiences with
their powerful voices.
J. Anthony Crane as Tateh was especially effective in his
scenes as the struggling, frequently despondent immigrant who later finds a new
life in ways he had not imagined.
Elizabeth Stanley carried much of the story as Mother, the WASP wife and
mother who discovers that she is, in some ways, bound by greater limitations in
her role in society than the ignored African Americans and despised immigrants. In her empathy for them, she will break loose
her own bonds. Ms. Stanley’s performance
was captivating, every glance and movement was nuanced, and her vocal abilities
brought applause from the audience after her anthem “Back to Before.”
David Harris as Father, and Anne L. Nathan as Emma Goldman
gave strong support in pivotal roles.
Some fine moments:
The above-mentioned “Back to Before” number with the stage
lighting dimmed save for a collection of turn-of-the-twentieth-century table
lamps lit, casting a yellowish glow that seemed to evoke parlors of the period
where a woman both reigned and was prisoner.
“Our Children” with Ms. Stanley and Mr. Crane on a beach
watching his daughter and her son playing, and a sudden move toward the apron
of the stage as if to pull their kids from danger made us nearly rush forward
with them; until they pulled back, smiling, as if the imaginary near-fall was avoided.
The use of strobe lighting to create a zoetrope effect to
symbolize Tateh’s new career in early silent movies was very clever.
The final moments of the play are a silent tribute/prayer as
the children of the three families stand together and we see they are the
future. More than that, since we can
look back on the period in hindsight, we understand, wincing, that their
promise of a better life than their parents did not always ring true. However, they are somehow our children
now. That is the beauty and the majesty,
and the magic of theatre. The audience’s
standing ovation was well deserved.
The book is by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty,
and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. The show was
directed for the Barrington Stage Company by Joe Calarco, with musical
direction by Darren R. Cohen, and choreography by Shea Sullivan.
The theater lobby, with a nod to the subject of immigrants,
has a map of the world posted, and invites patrons to put pins in the countries
of origin of their families. In many
ways, this earnest production is a reflection of our times as much as it is of
the years between 1906 and World War I. Our
fascination with the scandals of celebrities—as with Leanne Smith, who charmingly
plays the ever effervescent and opportunistic Evelyn Nesbit—as well as being
introduced to new societal forces through music—in 1906 it was ragtime; today
it could be rap or hip-hop—demonstrates that the beginning of the so-called “American
Century” was not so different from today.
Like the coming and going of Halley’s Comet, are the echoes of that
former time cyclical, and the social, economic, and political turmoil we face today
possibly signal an end to the American Century?
Or are we just in a, to take a modern phrase, “rebooting”
phase? This thought-provoking musical
will likely do much more than entertain you. Go to the Barrington Stage Company in
Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and treat yourself to this wonderful show.
Ragtime continues through July 15th. For tickets and info, see this website.
Ragtime continues through July 15th. For tickets and info, see this website.
For more info, 
