Ragtime

Synopsis

Tragic, poignant and ultimately triumphant, Ragtime is a modern classic. It is the turn of the twentieth century in New York. An era is exploding. A century is spinning. And the people are moving in rhythm and rhyme to the music of Ragtime. The story of three groups in America, represented by Coalhouse Walker Jr, a Harlem musician; Mother and her family in New Rochelle; and Tateh, a Jewish immigrant who has come to America with his daughter seeking a new life. It features many historical figures, including Harry Houdini, Booker T. Washington, JP Morgan and Henry Ford.

The timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair, make this a theatre experience not to be missed.

Last season's Regents Park Open Air Theatre Production of Crazy for You received more five star reviews than any other West End musical that year, and previous productions of Hello, Dolly! and Into the Woods each won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.

Book your Ragtime Open Air Tickets today!

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 29 May 2012

The opening of the 1998 Broadway musical Ragtime promises so much and delivers so little. America assembles at the turn of the last century in a syncopated company cakewalk, a ragtime stomp that suggests an avalanche of joyous and uplifting theatrical elaboration.

In fact, that’s it folks. Scott Joplin has now left the building. It’s as if Oklahoma! had started with its title number and left you on your own to work out how the characters arrived at the creation of their new state in a series of feeble flashbacks.

With Ragtime, director Timothy Sheader goes even further: his stage, designed by Jon Bausor, is a statement of shambles and finality, the evaporation of the American dream with a ripped Stars and Stripes flag, the singed portrait of Barack Obama, a huge demolition crane and a Mickey Mouse doll among the rubble.

Terrence McNally’s filleting of E L Doctorow’s 1975 kaleidoscopic novel is more efficient than inspirat...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

Darren O'Shaughnessy - 27 August 2012:

This is nowhere near as bad as many of the reviews make it out to be. In fact I thought the first half was extremely strong, despite a couple of interruptions due to rain on the night. It flags a bit after the interval, losing its way slightly, but still provides a decent night out. While the songs aren't especially memorable, they're more than serviceable. The set looks great. The cast do their best. And the story is strong. I'd mark it 7/10. And, contrary to many reports here, I didn't notice any real walkouts during the interval -- the vast majority of people in attendance on the night I saw it stayed to the end and seemed to enjoy it....

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Open Air celebrates 80th birthday with 25p tickets to Ragtime Review Round-up: Mixed bag for Ragtime 1st Night Photos: Ragtime at the Open Air Theatre Opening: NT Antigone, Open Air Ragtime & Mercury Fur Sweet mystery of Ragtime writers Casting announced for Open Air Theatre's Ragtime & Dream More»