"Ragtime"

August 30, 2010 — I was getting tired. Last Tuesday I drove up to Weirs Beach, New Hampshire for a performance at the Winnipesaukee Players, the next day I made the much longer drive to Tamworth to the Barnstormers, then I had one day at home before beginning the long trek to Colebrook on Friday where I would spend two days at the Moose Festival in Colebrook and Canann, Vermont. I got home Saturday night and was on the road again Sunday to the Peterborough Players for a matinee performance. Today, Monday, after a 110-mile drive, I'm in Whitefield, New Hampshire, for the Weathervane Theatre's production of "Ragtime."

But, as things turned out, if I had reserved the next performance of "Ragtime" on Friday I would have made the long drive on a day when the weather might have been unpredictable due to the effects of hurricane Earl. Or if I had decided to pass on "Ragtime" altogether, I would have missed one of the better shows of the season.

"Ragtime" is based on E. L. Doctorow's novel of the same title. It's a musical with powerful drama set in early 20th Century America. It deals with racism and ethnic prejudice, featuring fictional characters alongside prominent real-life figures of the day, such as Booker T. Washington, Henry Ford, Emma Goldman and others. Robert H. Fowler turns in a terrific performance as the tragic and heroic Coalhouse Walker, a Harlem musician. Ashley Blanchet is excellent as his girlfriend. Simon Fortin is wonderful as an Eastern European immigrant. The rest of the cast is superb, including three child actors. The musical numbers from the original Tony-winning score cover many styles from ragtime to Tin Pan Alley to klezmer.

This show was a great ending to a summer theatre season in which I saw 18 productions, only about three of which were disappointing. I'm already looking forward to next summer.