New Ragtime
Saw the revival of "Ragtime" last night. It was a fine production... I just wish I went in not having memories of the 1998 production. I really miss the ridiculously ambitious sets flying in and out. With this one, they went with a simple three-tiered walkway concept. It served the show pretty well in terms of creating separate spaces for the boat scene, and otherwise simultaneous-but-separate actions.
The actors were fine... Mother and Tateh were especially good. Coalhouse was okay - they could have cast a bit bitter.
My biggest complaint was about the volume of the music. Somebody just forgot to punch that thing up to 11. This music is so powerful and so integral to the entire concept - when those tubas blare the low notes, you need to feel that in your entire body. Just didn't happen. Everything needed to be just that much bigger.
The actors were fine... Mother and Tateh were especially good. Coalhouse was okay - they could have cast a bit bitter.
My biggest complaint was about the volume of the music. Somebody just forgot to punch that thing up to 11. This music is so powerful and so integral to the entire concept - when those tubas blare the low notes, you need to feel that in your entire body. Just didn't happen. Everything needed to be just that much bigger.