Ragswas a legendary
Broadway flop. Starring opera diva Teresa Stratas, it had alot going for it. It was
based on a bookabout Jewish immigrants by Joseph Stein, who wrote Fiddler on the Roof.It had music by Eastman School alumnus Charles Strouse, who
composed operas and shows like Annie and Bye, Bye Birdie.It had lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, who
wrote the songs for Godspell and Pippin. It closed after four
performances.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The
“Original Broadway Cast Recording” was a best-seller, though it had
few members of the original Broadway cast. Blackfriars’ artistic director, John
Haldoupis, fell in love with the score on the recording, “which led to a
highly regarded concert reading at the JCC in 1993,” he recalls. Now,
Haldoupis is pleased to present a fully staged production with his longtime friend,
Herb Katz, JCC’s Artistic Director, in the role of Avram Cohen. This revival is
something of an event.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Haldoupis has
designed complex sets that avoid the stagy and pretty: They’re so flavorful,
they even seem to emit the odor of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Lana Momano’s
realistic costumes make sharp distinction between the poor immigrants and the
occasional Uptown swells we see. Cara D’Emanuele brings not only first-rate
musical direction to the production, but acts the lead role of Rebecca with
charm and power, and sings it superbly, in a strong, beautiful soprano. Hers is
not only the lead performance, but a heroic one.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Herb Katz is
ideally cast as the traditional Jewish refugee papa, Avram, who’s somewhat
clueless, but emotionally wrenching in his devotion to his young daughter. No
one else could get so much character and humor into a simple line as Katz does
when a canny little boy ups the price for merchandise Avram is trying to sell,
and Avram assures the doubting customer, “I work for him.” Ten-year-old
Clay Thomson is remarkable as the boy, but needs work on diction. It’s hard to
believe that Pamela Good, one of our best and most experienced local singers
and actresses, hasn’t performed in a Blackfriars musical before this, but she’s
irreplaceable as Rachel, a widow who pursues Avram. Good and Katz make an
inevitable team.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Other valuable
contributors to this fine ensemble effort are strong-voiced Peter Doyle, as
Rebecca’s commanding husband, Nathan; Ronald S. Herman, as the rabble-rousing
activist, Saul; Patrick Butler Jr., as the struggling young lover, Ben; and,
especially, Erin Koch, vocally and visually beautiful and heartbreakingly
moving as Avram’s young daughter, Bella.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Stein’s
wide-ranging book includes the dark side of Jewish refugee life in America:
sweat shops, exploitation, discrimination, violence. Rebecca’s husband Nathan
betrays another side of “the land of milk and honey” — he wants to
change their name from Hershkowitz to Harris and escape Uptown, away from their
traditions and friends. He’s even involved with the goons who attack the
“low class Yids” who want a union. Nothing is presented coolly. This
is a show of and about big emotions.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I find little in
this impressive production to fault. Meggins Kelly’s choreography is inchoate,
at best, but there’s not much need for dance in this presentational music
drama. I did miss the great curtain and the Opera Quiz during intermission. And
there are no Texaco commercials. But no one within a radius of hundreds of
miles is going to perform Rags better.
Rags,bookby
Joseph Stein, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, plays at
Blackfriars Theatre, 28 Lawn Street, through Saturday, May 24. Performances are
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at
3 p.m. Tix: $20-$22. 454-1260, www.blackfriars.org.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2003.
