BWW Reviews: RAGTIME THE MUSICAL at Lakewood Cultural Center

"It was the music of something beginning: an era exploding, a century spinning, in riches and rags, and in rhythm and rhyme... the people called it Ragtime."

Performance Now Theatre Company and the Lakewood Cultural Center have combined forces to bring E.L. Doctrow's magnificent story to life on stage this spring. The story takes place in 1906 and follows the struggles of different racial groups as they weave in and out of each other's lives, creating a fascinating tapestry of interwoven plots. The walls between the white upper-class, the poor European immigrants, and the black people of Harlem are tall and strong, but they begin to break down as members of each group fight for equality and justice for each other.

Mother (Lindsey Falduto) is the strong white matron who breaks down barriers by caring for a frightened black mother, Sarah (Krisangela Washington), and her newborn son. Tateh (Daniel Langhoff) is a poor immigrant who moves to America in search of freedom and opportunity, but quickly learns that he has to create his own "American Dream" for his daughter, and becomes one of the most prominent silent picture directors of the era. Coalhouse Walker (Justin Spann) is a Harlem pianist who loves Sarah and fights for black justice when his car is vandalized and his wife is killed. The stories are tightly stitched together with laughter, drama, and romance as the show progresses.

Director Kelly Van Oosbree Ross has put together an absolutely phenomenal cast. The lead characters are stunning and the ensemble is made up of powerhouse singers and dancers to back every scene. Under the music direction of Eric Weinstein, the music is powerful enough to bring audiences to tears. The whole cast is also dressed to the button in brilliant period costumes thanks to costumer Cindy Franke. While there were some misfire technical cues in the performance I attended, the lighting by Vance McKenzie was also to thank for some truly beautiful stage moments.

While the entire cast was spectacular, some performances deserve a very special mention. Lindsey Falduto and Daniel Langhoff, who are possibly the strongest vocalists in the show, also share the most incredible stage chemistry between their characters. Jeremy Rill as Younger Brother delivers an astounding performance as the radical who crosses the race lines to fight for true justice, and the fire and passion in his voice and his character are simply brilliant. Also of note, Alisa Metcalf (Evelyn Nesbit), Andrew Bates (Harry Houdini), and Carter Novinger (Little Boy) all masterfully portray fun characters who weave in and out of the story lines as a sort of broken-up Greek chorus, and offering insight to other characters throughout.

Ragtime is a meaty show, and requires a cast full of triple-threat capable performers to really do it justice. This is that show, and these are those performers. From the very first opening number, they mesmerized the audience. As I listened to the final notes of the show, with tears in my eyes, all I could think of was "this is why I love theatre".

Ragtime plays the Lakewood Cultural Center March 25th through April 10, 2016. For tickets and information go to www.Lakewood.org/LCCPresents or call 303-987-7845. Photo Courtesy of RDG Photography

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