Closing Too Soon..
When I was 12 years old my mother took me to see my first Broadway show. The Will Rogers Follies. Most people will shrug is say huh? Never heard of that one. But to a 12 year old girl sitting 5 feet from the stage it was the most marvelous sight to see. From then on my mother continued taking me to see shows until I was old enough to take the train into NYC and see shows on my own. I have taken quite a liking to rock musicals over the years. Again, I have to thank my mother for taking me to see my first rock musical- The Who’s Tommy, which really started it all for me. Through my 16 years of going to the theatre I have seen all types of productions. Some amazing and some not so great. It has been a long time since I was truly moved to tears, not even tears I will be honest I was sobbing by the end of the production. That production is Ragtime.
Seeing as though I now live 1200 miles away from the Great White Way when I visit a few times a year I try to fit in as much theatre as possible. I make my selections very carefully. I somehow missed the original production of Ragtime in 1998 but I was familiar with the music. For weeks before my arrival in NY last week I still had not narrowed down which shows to see but Ragtime stayed in my head. I knew it was something special I just didn’t realize the magnitude of how special it would be.
The night before I had planned on getting my ticket I had gone to see Finians Rainbow. As I was leaving the theatre I had gotten word that Ragtime was closing only months after its opening. The next morning I was at the theatre when the box office opened and purchased my ticket for Wednesday afternoon.
Ragtime takes place is 1906 the turn-of-the-century New York, The story weaves together three distinctly American tales – that of a rich upper class white family, a determined Jewish immigrant hoping to make a better life for his young daughter and a daring young Harlem musician and the love of his life they are all brought together by their courage and determination for a better life. It is a show about hope and the notion that anything is possible.
In many ways the shows is very relevant to the world we live in today. We still deal with racism and separation, inequality and hate in 2010 not much has changed since 1906 has it? We may have come a long way but we still have so far to go. The story line is heavy with a few laughs here and there the story takes you an emotional journey that I was not prepared to take on that day. But boy am I glad that I did. It is sad that this revival was not able to find its audience. I feel it may have something to do with the heavy storyline. People want to go to the theatre and laugh they don’t want to be reminded of the things we all deal with on a daily basis. They want to go to the theatre to forget. Me, I want to go to the theatre to be moved. Ragtime did just that for me. With a wonderfully, moving and important plot. Superb orchestrations and some of the best acting and singing you will see on a New York City stage. My perception of great Theatre as been changed forever.
Sadly tonight on January 10, 2010 Ragtime will be closing. Closing too soon I say, I will always keep its message of hope with me.
New music is one of my favorite songs from the musical… this song breaks my heart in a good way…
His fingers stoke those keys, and every note says ‘Please’, and every chord says’ Turn my way’. I thought I knew what love was but these lovers play.
New music! Haunting me, and somehow taunting me- my love was never half as true. Sarah, my life has changed. Sarah, you’ve got to see. Sarah, we got a son! Sarah, come down to me…
You and your music singing deep in me, making nice to me, Saying something so new-
Changing everything, Meaning everything, Music calling my heart to you… Play that melody, Your sweet melody, Calling my heart to you. Just like that tune Simple and clear, I’ve come to hear. New music breaking my heart, Opening a door, changing the world!
Below is a video of the 1998 Original Broadway Cast performing the opening number on the 1998 Tony Awards. Enjoy!
