The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow’s novel. As the story continues, we meet pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. and his child's mother, Sarah who has been taken in by a respectable family. Parallel story lines of the Latvian immigrant Tateh, the entertainer Evelyn Nesbit, and even Harry Houdini and Emma Goldman eventually mingle and merge.

I really enjoyed the Apollo Theatre’s production of Ragtime. The original broadway production was criticized for having too many special effects that demonstrated how blown away the people of the period were by new technological advances like the locomotive and automobile, but Chicago’s down to earth theatre companies have a way of making their talents shine more than the prop master as did Artistic Director Walter Stearns and Musical Director Eugene Dizon. This well-chosen cast all had exceptional singing voices and wonderful dancing skills. The story of three separate groups of immigrants merging together in a melting pot that isn’t really stirred very well still has a lot of political relevance today.

I got a great laugh on the line in the opening prologue describing the beautiful and famous Evelyn Nesbit and the shooting of her lover by her rich husband-


We think we are as sophisticated as a country can be, but this is only the seventh year of our century too. We are all buzzing with our I-pods and Internet, just as they were back then about the car and refrigerator, and WE still have 93 years to go in this century, who knows what marvels lie ahead!

Of course the scenes with the Russian Jewish immigrant Tateh and the way he saves his only daughter from starvation and prostitution brought tears to my eyes. Tateh goes from rags to riches by turning his artwork into movie books and eventually moving pictures. My family came over at Ellis Island too. My grandfather was a cameraman for RKO pictures before his family made him quit for a more lucrative position, and my father a disabled physician also turned to documentary filmmaking in the last years of his life. Tateh’s story perfectly shows the Jewish people’s love of fantasy and storytelling to improve their difficult lives.

Ragtime was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 1998, with wins for McDonald, original score, book, and orchestration. Tragic, touching, and ultimately triumphant in its exploration of race and prejudice issues, Ragtime is an American classic. It draws upon traditional Jewish folk sounds to color the haunting music and yearning lyrics of the immigrants, Vaudeville's outrageous style, and Joplin and Jazz to invoke the enlivened spirit of Harlem.

Ragtime has been held over till August 26th, be sure to see it with your family!