Rags

Synopsis

Rebecca, a Russian Jewish immigrant to the U.S. at the turn of the century, finds to her dismay that her husband, who has preceded her, is determined to assimilate and lose his ethnic identity in order to climb the social ladder. A saga of hopes and disappointments, of power and greed, of strength and love, with memorable music.

Our Review:

5 November 2001

Is there a strong case to be made for Rags, one of those fabled flops beloved of musical theatre aficionados and cabaret buffs, but unknown outside of that small circle? Certainly the show - which ran for just four performances in its original Broadway run in August 1996 - has a couple of wonderful melodies that stir the heart and live on in the brain. "Children of the Wind", in particular, and "Blame it on the Summer Night" are stirringly aching anthems that, in their music by Charles Strouse (Annie) and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin), throb with sincerity and good intentions.

The show that contains them, with its earnest, diligent book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof) that charts the Jewish immigrant experience of arriving in New York at the turn of the last century, has a similar spirit. And as lovingly realised in the busily detailed production here of Matthew White, it is beautifully done.

But d...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 23 November 2001:

Vivid and moving . Not all voices make it to the back of the theatre but a great evening if you sit near the front or on the side . ...

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