BWW Review: RAGS at Goodspeed Opera House
by Joseph Harrison Oct. 28, 2017 Tweet Share
Over the last few centuries, people from all over the world have dreamed of a better life and sought out opportunities to live that life to the fullest. For many, a dream of a better life in America caused them to give up everything familiar, leave friends, family and their way of life to try and make it in this land of freedom. Whether refugees from violence and war or immigrants looking for greater opportunities, for so long, people have looked to America as a beacon of hope and a place to make a new beginning. And just like those immigrants who came here with a second chance to live their lives to the fullest, RAGS, the musical that played only four performances on Broadway when it premiered in 1986, has been given a second chance to share the story of the immigrant experience in a new and exciting way on the Goodspeed Opera House stage. And boy what a second chance! Goodspeed's RAGS is a brilliant, heartwarming and powerful tale that everyone should have the chance to experience.
RAGS sports a musical theatre pedigree rarely seen - with music by Charles Strouse (ANNIE, BYE BYE BIRDIE), lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, PIPPIN, GODSPELL) original book by Joseph Stein (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, ZORBA) and a revised book by David Thompson (STEEL PIER, SCOTTSBORO BOYS). The creative team have completely reworked the show, reshaping the story, adding (and removing) characters and focusing on telling the story of the immigrant experience in New York in the early part of the 20th century through the eyes of a small group of family and friends. The story is tight and strong, the songs are beautiful, and the staging on the intimate Goodspeed stage works so well.
RAGS centers on Rebecca Herskowitz (Samantha Massell) who travels to America with her son David (Christian Michael Camporin) to escape the violence in her home country. She meets a friend, Bella Cohen (Sara Kapner) on the ship which sets her on the course for her new life. Rebecca and David Are soon welcomed into Bella's family who all live together in a tiny "sweatshop tenement" on the Lower East Side, making dresses for Max Bronfman (David Harris). In the small apartment live Avram, Bella's father (Adam Heller), and Jack and Anna Blumberg (Mitch Greenberg and Emily Zacharias), Avram's sister and brother-in-law. They work long days sewing dresses, each playing a part - presser, schlepper, baster, finisher. Other residents of the neighborhood play important roles in this small family's life, including Ben Levitowitz (Nathan Salstone) who runs the sewing machine, Sal Russo (Sean MacLaughlin) the Catholic neighbor who also serves as the family's "shabbos goy" and Rachel Brodsky (Lori Wilner) a friend of the family who peddles vegetables on the block. Rebecca is able to quickly make an impact on the lives of her new friends with her sewing talent, her creativity, and her determination. These characters illustrate the simple, yet difficult life of so many immigrants of the time and the daily challenges they faced, including intolerance, racism, violence, and unfair labor practices.
RAGS is a simple, yet beautiful musical that captures the spirit and hope of its characters from the first chords of the overture. Rebecca's determination to succeed and build a better life for herself and her son is the thread that weaves itself into the entire show. She takes risks, she pursues her goals and she does what it takes to succeed. She is a survivor and is the true heroine of the story. Performing this powerful role is Samantha Massell who is equal parts spitfire and terrified young woman. She delivers a number of thrilling songs including the title song, and a heart-wrenchingly beautiful "Children of the Wind" which works so well in its new place as the closing song for the show. As Avram, Adam Heller is brilliant. He is at times a perfect caricature of the Jewish father or when getting to know Rachel, he is simple, sweet and shy. But it is in his final scenes that Mr. Heller truly shines. His raw, emotional portrayal during the Kaddish scene is something I will remember for a very long time.
As director, Rob Ruggiero's vision for the production is truly inspired. He has worked closely with the creative team to deliver something that is rarely seen - a completely new take on an existing show. In terms of the creative elements, I must call out Michael Schweikardt's sets, and in particular the small tenement apartment that almost becomes a character of its own. It transforms before your eyes and when it turns it creates a sense of energy and movement. This is especially apparent in the closing scene, where the room is empty - evoking one end and another beginning. Linda Cho's costumes are beautiful, especially the dresses that Rebecca designs, and Luke Hegel-Cantarella's projections add such an emotional depth and historical grounding to the story, especially in the poignant and moving images during the final scene. Dan DeLange's orchestrations, David Loud's vocal arrangements and Michael O'Flaherty's music direction are all extremely strong. Goodspeed Musicals has really outdone itself with this production of RAGS. They have taken a show that many had written off as, simply, one of those shows that just didn't work, and they pulled it apart and put it back together as a fresh, vibrant, timely and important story. I fully expect that this will become the definitive telling of this story, and it should. Especially now, with the country divided, with refugees and immigrants still seeking the American dream, and with some people still singing "Take Our Country Back" as the upper-class do in the show, through RAGS, Goodspeed audiences have the chance to spend a couple hours living through the eyes of these hard-working, determined people who gave everything they had to make America great. But a show like this doesn't come around often, so don't miss it!
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RAGS runs at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT through December 10, 2017. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.). For more information, call 860-873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org. The Goodspeed Opera House is located at 6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT.
Photo credits: Top photo: And all who could not make this journey: we're alive here...and we'll thrive here" Samantha Massell in Goodspeed Musicals' Rags, now playing at The Goodspeed through December 10. Photo Credit © Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Mid photo: Meet an Italian" Sean MacLaughlin as Sal with Christian Michael Camporin and Mitch Greenberg (seated), Samantha Massell and Adam Heller in Goodspeed Musicals' Rags, now playing at The Goodspeed through December 10. Photo Credit © Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Bottom photo: It's a "Brand New World" for Rebecca Hershkowitz (Samantha Massell) and her son David (Christian Michael Camporin) in Goodspeed Musicals' Rags, now playing at The Goodspeed through December 10. Photo Credit © Photo by Diane Sobolewski
The Day - Goodspeed’s ‘Rags’ explores the immigrant experience - News... http://www.theday.com/article/20171105/ENT10/171109790
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Critics On The Aisle - www.criticsontheaisle.org http://www.criticsontheaisle.org/
Sean MacLaughlin as Sal the Italian Downstairs flirts with Rebecca (Samantha Massell) as Davi (Christian Michael Camporin) listens. Photo by Diane Sobolewski
By Don Church and Tony Schillaci, Critics On The Aisle
An exceptional “new” musical has opened at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. Playing through December 10, the quintessentially American tale illustrates the struggles, hopes and optimism of immigrants who came to find their dream in the “Brand New World” in the beginning of the 20th Century. As the newcomers disembark from a long ocean crossing in steerage, the main
1 of 17 11/13/2017, 11:02 AM Critics On The Aisle - www.criticsontheaisle.org http://www.criticsontheaisle.org/ characters, Rebecca Hershkowitz and her son David, along with their new friend Bella sing “If We Never Meet Again” a glorious anthem which sets the tone for the rest of this engaging show.
When the displaced foreigners arrive on Ellis Island, a quintet of exploitive wealthy bigots sneeringly confront the newcomers. They voice their displeasure of the new arrivals in a ragtime ditty “Greenhorns.” This memorable tune, often reprieved, illustrates the difficult future the immigrants will face living eight to a room in squalid tenements while trying to find their place in life on Manhattan’s lower East side. In their finest attire, Rebecca and Bronfman (Samantha Massell, David Harris) go uptown with the swells. Although appeared briefly on Broadway in 1986, the original Photo by Diane Sobolewski creators Charles Strouse (music) and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics) have teamed up with writer David Thompson, who has adapted the late Joseph Stein’s book. The result is this uplifting piece that reveals the determination of all those hard-working immigrants who eventually built America and generations later still do - with the promise of a better life.
Rebecca is played and sung magnificently by Samantha Massell*, who brings to the character the strength and fortitude of a widowed young woman alone in a somewhat hostile environment. Rebecca uses her talent for sewing to design and create a new look in women’s fashion – hence the title . Her fashion sense comes to the attention of factory owner Bronfman (David Harris*) who uses his charms (and lovely tenor voice) to beguilingly exploit the seamstress. Competing for Rebecca’s attention is downstairs neighbor “the Italian” Sal (Sean MacLaughlin*)– whose booming baritone is showcased in the delicious duet “Blame It on The Summer Night” – played out on the tenement rooftop. Through all this turmoil, Rebecca’s young son David (convincingly portrayed by Christian Michael Camporin*) struggles to keep his mother close while trying to keep her suitors at arm’s length.
Rebecca’s friend Bella is a bundle of energy and optimism as played by Sara Kapner* who beautifully duets with Ms. Massell in “Children of The Wind”, and the aforementioned “If We Never Meet Again.” Bella’s song-writing beau Ben is dazzlingly played by show-stopping Nathan Salstone* (“Bella’s Song,” “Yankee 2 of 17 11/13/2017, 11:02 AM Critics On The Aisle - www.criticsontheaisle.org http://www.criticsontheaisle.org/ Boy”). Mr. Salstone’s character is probably based on the Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the day – Irving Berlin instantly comes to mind.
The brilliant Adam Heller* is perfectly cast as Bella’s father Avram, who is reduced from being a teacher in the Old World to a peddler in the new one. A more experienced street peddler, Rachel, sets her cap on snaring Avram into sharing her “Three Sunny Rooms,” a show stopping lovely, witty, and melodic song which highlights the buoyant spirits of the newcomers to New York. Lori Wilner* delightfully portrays Rachel as a world-wise widow who uses wit and guile to catch Avram’s heart.
In the tenement, struggling to get out as much piece work as possible each day, is Jack (Mitch Greenberg*) and Anna (Emily Zacharias*) who keep the Jewish traditions alive in their crowded apartment while making a new life for themselves surrounded by the chaos of their daily struggle to put challah on the table.
Vocal arranger David Loud beautifully blends the voices of the quintet (J.D.Daw*, Ellie Fishman*, Danny Lindgren*, Sarah Solie* and Jeff Williams*). These talented actors do double duty as immigrants in many scenes, often magically appearing throughout the theater in the balcony, in the aisles, or in front of the first row of the orchestra. This terrific staging technique makes for an even more intimate feel during this poignant musical.
Director Rob Ruggiero has once more worked his magic by helping the actors tell a story that, in the wrong hands, could be overly sentimental. Instead, the joys, hopes, tragedies, social barriers and enthusiasms of the immigrant class in early 1900’s America (and indeed today) come across as “the story of most Americans.” Most of us can go back to old photos of our ancestors who arrived on these shores to see people who were determined to do nothing more than to pursue a new, happy, successful life.
Choreographer Parker Esse has thoughtfully scaled down the usually ebullient dancing on the Goodspeed stage to expertly fit the story – a few rapid explosions of joy by the immigrants, a lively beach-side strut, and a delicate waltz by the moneyed swells. The revolving set by Scenic Designer Michael Schweikardt recreates the crowded, cluttered conditions of a tiny, dark tenement apartment. The actors sometime need to move quickly to keep up the merry-go-round pace of the moveable floor.
Linda Cho has magically opened her sewing basket as Costume Designer for Her interpretation of the way each character dressed is a tribute to her talent for authenticity – from the Old World Jewish mode of dress to the elegant fabrics of the high society New Yorkers and the dresses created by Rebecca.
3 of 17 11/13/2017, 11:02 AM Critics On The Aisle - www.criticsontheaisle.org http://www.criticsontheaisle.org/ Lighting design by John Lasiter gives the show a bit less of the usual Goodspeed technicolor and more of a mood of the uncertainty of dark times. There are moments of tragedy and sadness that need to be embraced by somber illumination, and these are well executed.
Sound designer and Audio Supervisor Jay Hilton has created amplification that sounds totally natural. When the actors are singing in the aisles, close up, there is not even a hint that their voices are electronically enhanced. Wig and Hair design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer proves once again that each era can be identified by the way both men and women fussed with their hair: upsweeps for the ladies; pomades, and beards for the men were the order of the day in the beginning of the 20th Century.
In addition to the swing actors (Catalina Gaglioti, Giovanni DiGabriele and understudy for David, Gordon Beck) there is one other prominent addition to the Goodspeed stage - the Projection Design by Luke Cantarella. From the spirited opening Prologue to the Worker’s Strike to the Finale, the plight of the immigrants is played out in brilliantly projected black and white images – all authentic photos, all heartbreaking or uplifting. The finale image is a piece of theatrical magic.
Music Director Michael O’Flaherty is in his 26th season as Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director, and in this show he and orchestrator Dan DeLange pull all the stops with a plethora of musical idioms to bring this story of struggle and triumph brilliantly to life. (O’Flaherty has written music and lyrics for A Connecticut Christmas Carol which will be produced at Goodspeed’s nearby Norma Terris Theatre Nov. 17- Dec. 24th ).
Someone recently told us that they thought that is an “important” musical for our times. Albeit in total agreement, it’s nonetheless an exhilarating theater experience, peppered with all the ups and downs of the human experience, surrounded by beautiful music, wit, and laughs that come in just the right places. One of the “must see” shows of the season.
will run until December 10, 2017. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).
Tickets are available through the Box Office (860 873 -8668), open seven days a week, or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit www. goodspeed.org or Facebook, Twitter @goodspeedmusicl, Instagram and YouTube.
*Denotes member of Actors Equity Association
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Review: Goodspeed Stages “Rags” | The Westfield News |October 26, 2017 http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-goodspeed-stages-rags
October 26, 2017 Westfield NewsRoom Education Leave a comment
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