Giving the Nation a new syncopation, the people called it Ragtime...

[neverwhere]

I just got back from the new London production of one of the best musicals ever made, Ragtime. I love this show. I saw the original Toronto cast in 1997 before the writers altered the script and changed a few of the songs for Broadway, and fell utterly, madly in love. The songs are just glorious, full of passion and meaning, and the story is completely engaging, ensnaring the audience and making you really care about every single person on stage. And there is no finer show for chorus numbers -- I love Les Mis as much as anyone, but it's nothing compared to Ragtime -- when all the people gather on stage it's not because the song would sound better with more voices, it's because they really feel the same anguish and joy and love as the others, the stage positively radiates with their shared emotions. It's an absolutely amazing sight. For the London production the entire show had to be re-staged, because there weren't any theatres large enough to accommodate the lavish sets of the original version. But I thought it was even better without them -- having a bare stage and the orchestra on a balcony above brought an intimacy that was lacking in the original, and made you focus more on the story, which is of course what it's all about. After the show there was a Q & A session with the actors who played Mother, Father and Tateh (who looked exactly like Adrian Brody *winks at brandybuck and mrs_puppethead ;-), and I got to gush at them about how wonderful the show is, and how they shouldn't worry about being compared to the Broadway version (as some careless person had asked about earlier), as both productions were brilliant in their own way, and I couldn't have enjoyed myself more, which made them all grin hugely and give me a round of applause. Wheee!
So that was fun. :)


I have a new toy that is completely taking over my life. Yes, that's right -- I am now the proud owner of a Playstation 2. Fear me. *giggles*
I was going to write a long ramble about my current addiction to Kingdom Hearts, but I just can't be bothered. Suffice to say -- it owns me. ;-)


Happy birthday ladydarkrose, and welcome new friend inblackink! *happy smooches*


WillnotthinkaboutBushBlairandinsanephoneywar. Nononono. *chants with fingers in ears*


Oh, and Kiss Me. I'm Irish. *beams proudly* :)

Comments

Adrien lookalikes always of the good.

[mrs-puppethead.livejournal.com]

I have not a speck of Irish blood, but I've got some Scottish which makes me pretty close to Billeh (*cough*) so do I get a kiss back?

[linawen.livejournal.com]

Playstation 2 takes over everyone's lives....he he he...

Hm, it seems everyone is irish today... =)

[meretia]

I'm so glad it's got another chance! I adore Ragtime, and from what I hear, it died rather suddenly on Broadway. I never really understood why. I preferred the "Songs from Ragtime" concept album to the way it was staged in New York, but it was still a stunning show. I want to go to Mexico with Mother's Younger Brother, so that we can stage a very early Bonnie-and-Clyde-style crime wave on our way down. Because goldarnit, if I'm too late to corrupt him, I should at least be allowed to spend some time teaching him to indulge that corruption.

[airemay.livejournal.com]

I'm trying veryhardnottothinkofthewar but it isn't working. :(

[silverowlwings.livejournal.com]

*kisses you because you're Irish and ever-so lovely* :)

[gilneas.livejournal.com]

oooh! Ragtime! I am very jealous :)

I've been watching "The Making of Ragtime" video a friend lent me over and over lately.. and wow. It is amazing. The production we're doing here isn't won't suck too much, I hope.

[jrivka.livejournal.com]

-kisses-

[illiterate.livejournal.com]

Weirdly, I have a friend who played the little girl in Ragtime. Bet you saw her in Toronto. That show holds such a special place in my heart because I know most of the original cast and because I saw it so many times. Oh... so wonderful. It left me with a burning desire to be Evelyn Nesbit.

[etesian.livejournal.com]

*plays Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss for Nevvie*

Kiss Kiss You, You're Irish *g*

[eyre-lasgalen.livejournal.com]

Ragtime was the last musical that I saw in Toronto, years ago. I loved it so much! I just wish I could remember it, because I seem to have forgotten nearly all of it, except that I loved it.

BTW, Happy St Patrick's Day!

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
Quick to make friends.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward

[wreibyn.livejournal.com]

*does the happy Nevvie dance with Nevvie*

i'm not exactly sure how much Irish i have in me... but i've got some somewhere down the line, after all, my great-grandparents came from the UK.. okies...

*sends kisses to the Irish hobbity-lass*

[mlfoley.livejournal.com]

*SAH-MOOCH!*

[laizeohbeets.livejournal.com]

i saw ragtime at a theatre conference in february... done with a bunch of high schoolers. even with a bunch of high schoolers, it was SO AMAZING.

i would love to be evelyn nesbit. hehe.

ahaha, what's funny is that i have all of ONE irish guy in my ancestry, any you know what? he moved from scotland. to ireland. and then to georgia. how about THAT for irishman? lol.

[ladydarkrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the birsday wishes, love :-) Had a lovely day, until I watched Shrubya's statement *feels ill*

And... not Irish, but Scots, so kiss me anyway! Mwah!

Adrien lookalike?! Why didn't you run up onstage and whisk him away?!

[brandybuck.livejournal.com]

Ragtime was the first ever real uber-Broadway show I ever saw, and the only one I've seen in NY!

*buries herself in your couch* Take me to London and I hide me. Fucking world. I'm going to go make some porny kielbasa icons!

[storme]

Kingdom Hearts rocks.

Iain's addicted, so I just watch over his shoulder.