I need to take a minute to talk about Ragtime. I went to see the show last night (Thursday 7/16) at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, and to say the show was wonderful is an understatement. I wish that there were words to describe how wonderful my experience was.
I was told I wasn't the type to get into ragtime, which makes sense if you know the kind of musicals I like. Ragtime is very different from a lot of the musicals I like, so it's something you wouldn't expect me to be so interested in. Yet I don't see myself letting go of this show for another hot minute. From the vocals to the costumes to the writing to the plot... I am still mind-blown. (Love Lynn and Stephen, Anastasia is also my favorite musical)
I want to talk about two actors who blew me away. Nichelle Lewis who played Sarah. I never knew about her before. From the moment that woman walked on stage, I felt everything that she had. A lot of actresses nowadays fail to really embrace the character and are too shy when it comes to making bold choices. An actor may sometimes sing very well but not "act" very well, and sometimes it's even the other way around, but they don't even try to hide it. Not Nichelle, though. It's beyond impressive when someone can do both, and to say Nichelle accomplished everything a performing actress should have was an understatement. Words can't describe what I've been going through since seeing the show mentally. Someone's voice has never been able to bring me to tears that quickly. Oh, soprano belt ily.
Joshua Henry also blew me away, and the same with Nichelle; I could really feel the emotion he had in Coalhouse. Coalhouse fought for what he believed in, expressing pure rage and emotion. While also holding an extreme level of talent. Can I say this next part as a woman? Who cares. Broadway is full of Tenors nowadays. As wonderful as High voices can be, we don't get a lot of low voices anymore. Obviously, Coalhouse isn't the lowest character and is very hard to sing, but you don't get that pure richness anymore, I feel like. Joshua Henry holds this wonderful, dark, pure, rich, deep voice. It's so nice to see a trained baritone on stage.
Also, I've never cried so hard during a show. "Your Daddy's Son " was the first song to send me spiraling, and my mascara was almost gone by the end of Act 1. I'm not going to spoil what happens, but by the last song, tears poured down again. My final straw was when I saw baby Coalhouse (HE WAS THE MOST ADORABLE CHILD I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE), by then that was my breaking point because I officially had no mascara on my face. The vocals and the characters really got to me, if you can't tell.
I could talk about the whole cast for hours, maybe I'll make another post about it though. Long rants haven't really done me any good, if you know, you know. Anyways. As jealous as I am whenever I go to a Broadway show because I wish I were on stage, I feel so special and lucky that I even get to go and live in a generation with such wonderful actors. I wish Broadway shows were more like this. Casting actual talent and not just stunt casting. People don't make musicals like this anymore. If possible, see Ragtime before it closes! I was originally supposed to see it in August, but found cheaper tickets in July! If there's an opportunity and it relates to Ragtime the musical, SNAG IT.
