Ragtime – Arden Theatre Company – Theatre Review

The Ensemble of RAGTIME at Arden Theatre Company. Photo by Wide Eyed Studios.
By Amanda VanNostrand.

The early 1900s are beckoning you to experience RAGTIME at Arden Theatre between today and October 27th. (The original end date of October 20th was extended by one week due to popular demand, so you know this one’s got greatness slathered all over!)  Based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel RAGTIME, this production premiered in 1996 in Toronto, eventually hitting the New York Broadway stage in 1998 where it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards. RAGTIME is a disturbingly timely tale with beauty woven through from start to finish.

RAGTIME takes place in the early 1900s when numerous social issues prevail: different races are navigating what it looks like to live amongst one another; women are working towards equal status, both legally and within their personal lives; immigrants are striving for a hopeful future with the question of  whether success will follow, an answer which can only be determined upon arrival. Issues that are quite obviously neither short lived nor unfamiliar an entire century later, echo loudly. 

RAGTIME opens with a wealthy white family consisting of Mother, Father, Younger Brother, and Little Boy. Shortly after Father departs for travel on a year-long expedition to the North Pole, Mother finds an abandoned newborn – a black child – and saves his mother, Sarah, who has made the attempt to desert him. As time goes on Coalhouse Walker, Jr. presents his keen musical talents and reveals himself to be the father of the child Sarah had abandoned. He seeks her out, and the two (three, including their son Coalhouse Walker III) eventually strive to be a family. Sarah and Coalhouse are up against a society who feels they should not have the success they have earned; Coalhouse is a talented, successful musician, and he is a black man. His appearance is handsome and well put-together, which is more than what can be said of most of the white men they encounter. As such, when they come across less successful white people whose racist actions (vandalizing Coalhouse’s car) are supported by law enforcement, Sarah and Coalhouse are forced to decide whether to act in a complicit manner or to push back and risk the loss of everything. The audience is also introduced to Tateh, a Jewish, immigrant artist with a daughter, who has just arrived in America. The vision he has of America is much more promising than what he finds in actuality; though the promise of a new life has been so appealing, it does not take long for him to realize that many in America do not wish for him to join them, and words and acts of cruelty will not be held back. 

And while these new characters grace the stage, some more familiar names appear: Emma Goldman, a political activist and writer; Evelyn Nesbit, a prominent actress; Booker T. Washington, the heroic civil rights leader; Henry Ford, the well-known industrialist; and Harry Houdini, renowned illusionist. These figures represent the era in which this show takes place, bringing a sense of reality to the fictional stories.

Alex Bechtel and Jessica Johnson in RAGTIME at Arden Theatre Company. Photo by Wide Eyed Studios.

RAGTIME is a musical, and with music by Stephen Flaherty (who also wrote the score for Anastasia!), it is clearly a success. It is difficult to choose favorites, but “Till We Reach That Day” – passionately sung by Jessica Johnson – is sure to hit all members of the audience hard. A light, comedic song is “What a Game” – sung by many in the cast, and taking place at a baseball game, proving that there are some times when all can come together in America for a common purpose. (All except for the rich Father, who clearly disapproves of the ruckus the less privileged are causing. But don’t let him ruin it for you; the other characters certainly do not. Such a fun piece!) 

Any frequent theatre goer is sure to recognize various faces within this cast. While the entire cast come together with talent, a few names are certainly worth mention. Two such actresses whose faces, voices, and strong presence are prominent are those of Jessica Johnson and Terran Scott. These are two beautiful black women whose passion inserts itself into each of their scenes; it is clear that this show holds meaning to them, and their parts, especially those involving their voices, are phenomenally well done. These are two women who will not be silenced; their work holds immense meaning, power, and value to audience members, and seemingly to them as well. 

Although the cast certainly makes this show great, the setup that Arden has provided is fantastic. With set design by James Kronzer, the audience enjoys a view of the stage in circular form. With elevated seats circulating the entirety of the stage, all members of the audience receive a great view and experience. The ceiling is also open, so lighting design (Thom Weaver) plays an important role. And while the audience is seated in a circle, an added bonus is the music (sound design by Elizabeth Atkinson), which is played live in various places throughout the theatre (including the stage!). Although set design is extremely simple, the audience is never at a loss for where and when the characters are, and the simplicity allows for focus to remain on the characters. (Critics of RAGTIME criticized the elaborate set design while it was on Broadway in the 90s, so one may consider that the simplistic set is an improvement from earlier performances in New York!)

RAGTIME takes place about 100 years ago, but some aspects will seem all too familiar: Coalhouse seeks justice from police after his car is vandalized, only to be turned away because he is a black man whose car was ruined by white men; Mother tries to do good in society while her husband repeatedly knocks her attempts, marking her sympathy for others as the weakness of a woman; Tateh comes to America in order to leave a sad story behind and start a new, happy one, only to be judged and ridiculed by those who already live there. Over and over, wealth and power prove to be victorious over justice. Another familiar piece, however, is the persistence of the characters. As tough as their lives become, they push and strive for what is right. The actor who portrays Harry Houdin – Skip Robinson – puts it well: “This show hits hard on topics of race, immigration, and the socioeconomic class system. I hope people leave this show and start to take better care of each other.” 

This is an important one; go see it.

RAGTIME will be playing on the F. Otto Haas Stage between now and October 27th. The theater is located at 40 N. 2nd Street Philadelphia, PA. For tickets, contact the box office at 215-922-1122 or click here.