Ford Centre for the Performing Arts

Ragtime

Until July 26th

Tickets: (604)280-2222

RAGTIME IS AMERICA, AMERICA!

by Ed Farolan

One wonders whether a Canadian web publication like ours should adulate a musical where America the Beautiful, the Great, etc. is the theme. From an economic standpoint, aren't we already part of America, flooded by American goods through American mega-corporations like Walmart, and obviously dominated by the almighty dollar that has brought our buying power to almost nil?

And yet, seeing this musical, you realize why Americans are what they are, and as you sit there and watch all that energy in Ragtime, it just dawns on you-- it's that zeal, that fire, that spirit, that passion in the American that strives for the American dream that makes Americans what they are. As lyricist Lynn Ahrens aptly put it, thematically pointing out at the conclusion of the show, that America is journeying in the "wheels of a dream".

This is what E. L. Doctorow talks about in Ragtime: Only in America can dreams come true. Only in America can an immigrant Jew soar from rags to riches and marry a high class WASP lady, as in the case of "Tateh" who marries "Mother". Only in America can discrimination and racism be something to be angry and passionate about. And only in America can someone produce an exciting musical like Ragtime!

Another standing ovation from an appreciative Vancouver audience saluted the cast of Ragtime in the July 5th matinee performance curtain call as they are now in their final performances. It opened May 10th and will close July 26th to journey on to Chicago to make their premiere there this Fall. It originally made its Broadway premiere in January 1998, and so far has won fourTony awards including "Best Book" and "Best Score".

The haunting tune of Ragtime still haunted me hours after I left the Ford Centre. I kept imagining the fictional and factual characters interwoven delicately by E.L. Doctorow: The Great Harry Houdini, The Girl in the Swing-- Evelyn Nesbit, Booker T. Washington, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Coalhouse Walker Jr...The actors were refined, truly professional in their delivery of lines as well as song, and it was all worth paying those big bucks to watch this show! And take advantage of the half-price specials.