"RAGS" VS. "RAGTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                                               

                          If you really must know, darlings, it all began with E. L. Doctorow, who published what turned out to be his masterpiece novel, "Ragtime," back in 1975.

                          That was also the year Robert Altman came out with his cinematic masterpiece, "Nashville."  I was in college, then, and read everything about this film, and in an article on it in "Film Quarterly," back then, I read that Joan Tewksbury and Altman were collaborating on a film version of "Ragtime."  What a perfect combination to create this film from that novel, I thought.  Unfortunately, it never came to pass, and Milos Forman went on to direct the film version of "Ragtime."  Released first on November 20, 1981 and then nationwide on Christmas Day of that year, the film garnered fairly good reviews, but to this day I refuse to see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         About a year later, several years after Doctorow published his novel, and I was working at Lincoln Center, I heard word of Joan Micklin Silver, the creator of "Hester Street," also released in 1975, working on a project called "RAGS," dealing with the Jewish immigrant experience on the Lower East Side.

                        Silence for a long time after that.  Next, I heard Silver had dropped out of the project and it was now being conceived as a musical, with Joseph Stein, of 'Fiddler' fame, writing the book, Charles Strouse the music, and Stephen Schwartz, the lyrics.

                         One of the best songs in the "RAGS" score is "Blame It On The Summer Night."  And that is how it happened for me on an August night in 1986.

                           I was then dating a guy who was a company manager for Broadway shows, and "RAGS" was one of his shows.  He called me at work one day and wanted to know if I wanted a free ticket to "RAGS" that night.  Of course, I said yes.  The show had this glorious cast--Teresa Stratas, Larry Kert, Lonny Price, Judy Kuhn, Marica Lewis and Dick Latessa.  Rex Everhart also had a small role in it.  This sounded like Broadway gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         It turned out it was.  Halfway through the opening number, I was swept away.  And the songs just kept getting better and better.  I still get chills remembering the first time I heard Teresa Statas (yes, she was there!!!!!!!!!) sing "Children Of The Wind."  Not to mention then newcomer Judy Kuhn, who stopped the show with her highly impassioned and dramatic rendition of the title song.

                         When the Intermission came, I knew two things.  I had to run to a pay phone--remember this was 40 years ago; hey, "RAGS" turns 40 this year! --and tell friends to hurry down to the Mark Hellinger and see it, because, I knew, being a dark show, it was not destined for a long run.  This was a show Theater Queens and cultists had to see, which they did, and which subsequent productions of this show have drawn new audiences to bask in its musical glory.

                         I was right.  My next contact with "RAGS" was five years later, in 1991, when the Original Broadway Cast recording, with Julia Migenes Johnson, instead of Teresa Statas as Rebecca, was released, and it was a joy to finally hear the score.  That same year, the American Jewish Theater did a steam lined version of the show, preserving the important content, with then Broadway veterans Ann Crumb and Crista Moore as Rebecca and Bella.  Moore's equally compelling rendition of the title song ended Act One, and I thought, what a way to end the first half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            My two recent contacts with "RAGS" were several years ago, when I saw a beautiful production of the show downtown at the Connelly Theatre on East 4th it, and trying to get into a reading of it with Ted Chapin and Jessie Mueller presumably reading and singing the role of Rebecca.  Hey, Ted and Jess, how about it???????????

                          I still say not enough attention has been paid to "RAGS."  Now, let us go to "Ragtime." 

                          The musical adaptation of "Ragtime" opened in 1998 with a starry-eyed cast including Marin Maizie, Peter Friedman, Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell.  It was a  hot ticket, and I had reservations about it anyway.  I caught the show finally nearing its run's end, and the performers seemed to be walking through it.  The starry-eyed cast was gone.  I will say that Terrence McNally's book did justice to Doctorow's novel, but the score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty simply did not do it for me.  Two songs--the opening number and "The Wheel Of Dreams" do not a show make.

                            I was certainly in the minority.  The original production of "Ragtime" did itself proud at that season's TONYS and became a revived classic.  Unlike poor little "RAGS."

                            "Ragtime" was revived on Broadway in November of 2009.  Maybe I saw it as my birthday show.  I recall liking the staging--it was conceptual within the family house--and McNally's book still had its strength but the music, save for the two aforementioned songs, did nothing for me.  The outstanding cast member was Christiane Noll, who played Mother.  She is the daughter of director Ron Noll, with whom I had worked eight years before on VLOG's production of "The Pajama Game."

                              And now there is this present version of "Ragtime," playing to crowds at the Vivian Beatmont.  It dominated the TONYS, and I was thrilled for Joshua Henry and Caissie Levy, though I wish they had won for other shows!  What is it about "Ragtime" that draws people to it?  And the score, which people seem to love?  Why do I find "RAGS" the better score?  Is it taste, sophistication, or are those drawn to "Ragtime" attracted because it is less a darker show than "RAGS?"   But that is exactly why I am drawn to it.  Also, Lear DeBessonet, now the head of Lincoln Center Theater, and who directed this current version of "Ragtime," was cited by NY Post critic Johnny Oleksinskias not being able to stage anything, and I have to agree, after seeing what she did to "Oliver!" at ENCORES several years ago, I have to agree.  How come ENCORES! has never done "RAGS?"

                                   I have to say Lear DeBessonet bears a disturbing resemblance to Bari Weiss, and I bet is just like her.  I hope she does not ruin LCT.  They should have hired Bartlett Sher.  I may not agree with him, but he knows how to stage a show.

                                For those who are interested, the original production of "RAGS," in its entirety is currently on YouTube.  I urge you to take a look.  Like 'Merrily' it is a dark, problematic musical but with a great score.  I would like to live to see "RAGS" get it right, as Maria Friedman did with 'Merrily.'

                              As for those who champion "Ragtime," for God's sake please tell me why!!!!!!!!!!

                            For those who truly want to experience "Ragtime," here is my suggestion--

                                           Read the E. L. Doctorow book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Oh, and one last thing.  Note how the logos of both shows are rather similar.

                                            Stop copying "RAGS" and not giving it credit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!