Park Playhouse’s ‘Ragtime’ a complete production
ALBANY, N.Y. » “Ragtime” is without question the most complete production in the history of Park Playhouse.
Considering the company has been offering musical theater in Albany’s Washington Park for 29 years, this is quite an achievement.
Making the achievement even more remarkable is that “Ragtime” is a demanding musical. It has a complex score that requires powerful vocal strength and a book that weaves together several personal stories that unite to form a coherent whole.
This is a visually attractive production with a simple but functional set, nearperfect sound design and costumes that are a striking blend of white, complemented by many gay colors.
The ensemble numbers are visually stunning, but solo numbers like “Make Them Hear You,” “Back to Before,” “Your Daddy’s Son” and the first act closer, “’Till We Reach That Day” are equally powerful. Throughout, director Michael LoPorto excels in creating breathtaking stage pictures.
Besides looking and sounding great, the presentation is made better by the graceful and energetic movement of choreographer Ashley-Simone Kirchner. The cast moves effortlessly and energetically on the simple, efficient set designed by Jeffrey T. Perri, Jr.
All this creative skill is used to support worthy material. This is not escapist entertainment. “Ragtime” is a work that addresses serious social issues and suggests the truth of the axiom that states “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
“Ragtime” is a look at three different Americas, and though it takes place at the turn of the last century, it seems eerily like the turn of this century. The wealthy live indulged lives, the African-American population is marginalized, and immigrants are held in contempt.
The three groups become connected through noted figures of the day, Harry Houdini, Evelyn Nesbit, J.P. Morgan, Booker T. Washington and Emma Goldman. Meanwhile, violent racist behavior tears them and the country apart.
As good as the production is, and it is very good, the material does not always deliver the emotional clout you might expect. The canvas is so broad it is difficult to invest in every tragedy that unfolds. Storylines have an inevitability about them that wears you down emotionally.
It’s like watching that proverbial train wreck that is disturbing, but disengaging unless you know someone on the train.
Because the material is offered in a presentational style, we rarely get to know the characters on an intimate level and we feel as observers not participants.
That distancing is not the fault of the performers. You love and applaud the courage of Molly Rose McGrath’s Mother as the luminous actress creates a caring person whose compassion and strength gives the show a solid core of goodness. The area veteran actor’s vocal abilities are spellbinding, as usual, but her superior acting is a revelation.
Too, you root for the doomed Coalhouse as the powerful actor A. D. Weaver forces you to understand his radical behavior. Thwarted by institutional racism he is denied justice and turns to acts of violence against those who prey on the unprotected.
Weaver has a powerful presence and a voice to match.
Samuel Druhora plays the immigrant Tateh as a humble and kind man who deserves our respect and his success. A smart actor with fine voice and strong sense of lyrics, he is deserving of achieving the American Dream and more important realizes he got it through taent and luck.
Supporting roles are also well done. Edward Miskie is a pompous father who is a man of his time but not a bad man by choice, just by privilege. The Younger Brother is shown to be a man with the dilemma of wanting to do something of value with his life, without knowing how to accomplish his destiny. Alex Kunz makes clear the man’s psychological impotence is a result of not knowing how to have an impact on a changing society.
Mariah Lyttle is endearing as Sarah and sings like an angel. She is the mother of
the child who changes everyone’s life. Benita Zahn finds the passion in Emma Goldman without making her appear a one-dimensional zealot.
With a cast of over 30, it is easy to overlook someone. But this is not a show about individual performances. It is like the country it attempts to define. Performers of different races, creeds and gender come together to form something bigger than themselves. This time they got it right.
It’s an inspiration. “Ragtime” produced by Park Playhouse plays at Washington Park in Albany Tuesdays to Sundays. through July 29. Curtain is 8 p.m. The show runs almost 3 hours. Strong insensitive language is used that might offend some and disturb younger audience members. Seats on the hill are free, a fee is charged for lawn seating. For ticket information call 434-2035 or go to parkplayhouse.com