April 25/12 – Ragtime
– Nothing can outdo the incredible 1997 Drabinsky/Livent version of
this Stephen Flaherty/Lynn Ahrens musical with such talents as Brian
Stokes Mitchell, Marin Mazzie and Audra McDonald, with production
design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Santo
Loquasto, sound by Jonathan
Deans, and lighting by Jules
Fisher/Peggy Eisenhauer and the great book by Terrence McNally,
but this Shaw version sure gives it a run for the money. Thom Allison
pulls out all the stops as Coalhouse Walker, and Kate Hennig as Emma
Goldman, Patty Jamieson as Mother, Alana Hibbert as Sarah, and Jay
Turvey as Tateh are not far behind, as directed by Jackie Maxwell.
What a joy for the audience, and an immediate standing ovation for
the entire cast. It is always a joy for me to see this great musical
experience. To me, this is the best production of the Shaw Festival,
along with Mack and Mabel, and The Apple Cart with Zoe Caldwell of
many years back.
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