The People Called It RAGTIME- Page 3

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 8:01pm

I'm glad this went over so well.

I'm curious about the Version 2 thing too. Wasn't one cut (was it the one mentioned) made for the tour? I believe it was in Act II.

When I was a teen Ragtime ran for about 6 months in Vancouver (it was the second cast that had opened in LA--and one of Livent's brief but ambitious attempts to run a theatre in Van--I remember being excited to see the show a few weeks even before the Tonys). I don't remember the cast off the top of my head, but LaChanze was Sarah--and to me, as amazing as Audra is, her quite different Sarah is definitive (John Rubinstein was Tateh and Kingsley Leggs I believe was Coalhouse). I got to see it three, times, and it remains one of my all time fave theatrical experiences. I know some felt it was overproduced, but I never did--that said it's a sign of the quality of the show that it seems to really work just as well with little or no set.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 8:28pm

Yes, I have to say the Baseball Game song was such a highlight and very well recieved. I enjoyed the semi-staged stuff. Though it was pretty funny/clever when the ball is hit and the choir acted like the stands reaching for it. Pure fun that number was.

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 3:55am

The first thing I did this morning - I'm in London - was watch the opening number now up on this site and I'm an emotional wreck. I'll have to pull myself together to face the day.

But one point, with all the talk of the greatness of this cast, let's not forget the greatness of the Original Cast and especially Marin Mazzie who stopped the show nightly with her overwhelming Back To Before. No one here has mentioned her.

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 03:55 AM

[BWNUT]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:50am

Much credit must also go to the director, Stafford Arima. His directorial touches added to the overall brilliance of this production. Of course, his biggest directorial coup is casting the FABULOUS LEA SALONGA! OMFG! Talk about Bringing Down the House!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 7:11am

Man, I wish I could have gone to see this! From all the stories you are sharing it sounds like it was an extraordinary evening! I just got through listening to Salonga's "Back to Before". She was on fire! I can only imagine how she sounded live. Too bad I missed out on this one.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 8:26am

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 08:26 AM

[musikman]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 9:17am

"Now taking suggestions for shows for next year!"


.... Secret Garden? Please? O:)

Or is the chorus not big/substantial enough?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 9:25am

I am still on cloud 9 from Monday evening! I was immediately brought back to 1998 when I first saw the original Broadway production while it was still in previews. Everything about it Monday evening was perfect in my book.

I just have to say that Maneol Felciano was even better as Tateh as he had been 4 years ago at The Kennedy Center's production of Ragtime. I surprised that Howard McGillen never played Father in the original production after seeing his performance at the concert. Lea Salonga was a marvel.

My only quibble was that there was just one scheduled performance, but definitely worth my trip up from DC!

Updated On: 2/20/13 at 09:25 AM

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 12:43pm

Listening to the clip, but not having seen it live, Salonga was well-sung, but she seemed to be doing a lot of mimicking of Marin Mazzie's vocal style and inflection.

And Salonga, for all of her lovely vocals, couldn't pull off a strong ending: 'We can never go BAAAACK' should truly be the belt that Mazzie gave it. Salonga seemed to switch to a mix or head voice that, to me, killed the power of the moment.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 4:00pm

"Much credit must also go to the director, Stafford Arima. His directorial touches added to the overall brilliance of this production. "

Did he add scenes about youth bullying?

[sowren1020]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:28pm

Robert Petkoff as Tateh was much more joyful than Maneol Felciano, Maneol acting of it seemed much darker and his singing wasn't as pleasant to my ears. That said, his change into the Baron was fun to see. Petkoff still seemed the better choice for the role in the revival.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:30pm

Salonga was well-sung, but she seemed to be doing a lot of mimicking of Marin Mazzie's vocal style and inflection.

Does she though? As someone who is OBSESSED with the Marin Mazzie version of this song, I don't think they sound similar at all.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 5:40pm

That sounds all Lea to me. She has her own distinctive way of singing.

And I'm super envious of all who saw this concert... wish I were there but glad you guys experienced it!

[augustine73]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 6:40pm

no PBS... at least release a CD!

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 2/20/13 at 11:53pm

Marin Mazzie and Lea Salonga are very distinct singers - both are great but they are far from being soundalikes. I loved the way Salonga sang the D flat in "Back to Before," which, yes, is very differently produced from Mazzie's. What mattered most to me was that Salonga telegraphed the message so well that Mother was no longer the same woman Father left behind. And I think that's essentially why Salonga got the biggest reaction of the evening after she finished Mother's 11:00 number.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 12:10am

"Since they are not in costume, how did they handle the visual gag of Father coming back home from his adventure and the maid not recognizing him?"

Pure suspension of disbelief. The audience just had to go along with the book sans that particular visual of Father post expedition.

[wickedlyfantine]

Posted: 2/21/13 at 2:24am

The show was amazing. I was surprised row Q was as close as it was. I'd never been to Lincoln Center before so I was pleasantly surprised the row wasn't as far back as I'd expected.

I was actually a bit disappointed by Norm Lewis' performance. He seemed to lack a certain charm I associate with Coalhouse. He got better as the show went on, but in the beginning I was a bit let down. I was really excited to see him so that was a little disappointing. He does seem to have a subtle way of performing in shows, though, so maybe that's just his acting style.

(Weirdly enough, despite that complaint, Norm Lewis and Patina Miller's version of Wheels of a Dream is my favorite version I've ever heard.)

I thought Lea Salonga was great. It was my first time seeing her live--I've just seen her in both the 10th and 25th Les Mis anniversaries--and I was not let down.

The only odd vibe I got was from the guy playing Willie Conklin. I thought he delivered his lines in a weird way and seemed almost tired/depressed. I'm not sure how to describe it...it was just odd to me.

Just curious, who was Lea Salonga waving at during the bows? She and a few other performers gasped and started waving at someone in the center orchestra, but I couldn't see who it was. Apparently Sierra Boggess attended the show, so perhaps it was her?

Overall it was a great night of theatre and I wish it had been recorded, but I'm just glad I had the opportunity to be there at all. I wish Ragtime would just come back to Broadway tbh, but I guess I'm biased since it's one of my favorite shows

[BWNUT]

Posted: 2/22/13 at 12:23am

"Salonga was well-sung, but she seemed to be doing a lot of mimicking of Marin Mazzie's vocal style and inflection. "

"And Salonga, for all of her lovely vocals, couldn't pull off a strong ending: 'We can never go BAAAACK' should truly be the belt that Mazzie gave it. Salonga seemed to switch to a mix or head voice that, to me, killed the power of the moment."

just glad she did not mimick the big i'm-afraid-she's-going to-swallow-the-mike mouth and the weird writhing lips. She managed to maintain her lovely features while bringing the house down. That's skill.

Updated On: 2/22/13 at 12:23 AM

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 2/22/13 at 3:04am

Frankly, I could care less how Mazzie looks when she sings: Her technique is fantastic and her sound is strong.

Salonga seemed fine, but to me, she was no Marin Mazzie. She didn't sell the money note as I thought she needed to... Perhaps other audio recordings of the show will prove me wrong. So far, Mazzie is still the definitive 'Mother' of Ragtime in my opinion.

[gooftroop]

Posted: 2/23/13 at 3:36am

"Now taking suggestions for shows for next year!"

Parade
Secret Garden (and it has beautiful ensemble music)
Street Scene