Front Row Centre Review: RAGTIME - In Concert

"Nothing much happens in a year" Father assures Mother in the first scene of RAGTIME – The Musical.

 

Well, perhaps not, but how about ten years? For it was almost exactly a decade ago that this musical received its world premiere at what was then called the North York Performing Arts Centre. Now, after playing Broadway, touring North America and being presented by several leading regional theatres, the show returns to the place where it was born, though this time in the smaller studio theatre of the Toronto Centre for the Arts in a production by Encore Entertainment.

 

It is a show worthy of an encore. Directed as a fast moving series of musical scenes by Merle Garbe this semi-staged concert performance offers the book and score from RAGTIME featuring a cast in full costume.  Though the scenery is limited to a few projections to establish time and place, this is such a well-written musical that audiences have absolutely no trouble following the story: it is all there in the text!

 

From the moment Michael Rausch as The Little Boy introduces us to the era of RAGTIME we are off on an emotional journey with the dedicated cast. 

 

Peter Pequegnat offers a stalwart portrayal of the family patriarch who finds himself unable to cope with a century spinning too fast.  Sarah Haley portrays mother with a quiet dignity that only partially masks a growing feminist awareness.

 

Sergio Calderon registers strongly as Mother's younger brother. Similarly, Zandee Toovey makes a commanding Emma Goldman. Shawn Henry sings sweetly as the tender and caring immigrant Tateh with Izabel Della Siepe lighting up the stage with her brief appearances as his daughter.

 

Georgia Grant offers a moving and powerful performance as Sarah, with Roger Sealy opposite her as Coalhouse Walker Jr. displaying the fire in his soul in their duet "Wheels of a Dream."

 

Because of the concert format, the large cast doubles as the ensemble. This allows Corey Payette a chance to show off his strong voice as Harry Houdini. He also takes on the role of the bigoted Willy Conklin. Some strong acting offsets the fact that he is a little too young for this role.

 

Ellen Kestenberg ensures the large ensemble delivers the score with crisp clear diction while conducting the on-stage orchestra with precision. The limited staging area somewhat restricts the brief choreography by Danielle Wolstat but the pacing of the performance keeps us focussed on the story being told.

 

Ten years ago when RAGTIME premiered, I considered this one of the finest new musicals in many seasons. Though the opening number talks about an "era of something beginning" the show actually became the last great musical of the 20th century.

 

 

Encore Entertainment presents RAGTIME in Concert in the studio theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Performances continue through Sunday June 4^th. Evening performances are at 8 PM with a Sunday matinee at 2 PM. Tickets are  $26.50 and available by calling (416) 733-0558.

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