Revised “Rags” Receiving Rich Raves
I saw the Broadway production of “Rags” in 1986 and I concur with Frank Rich’s review in the New York Times: he praised the magnificence of Teresa Stratas, the star (her performance six years before at the Met in Berg’s opera “Lulu” is the most electric I’ve ever seen by an artist anywhere, ever) and the soaring melodies of Charles Strouse’s score. Rich found the rest of the show (lyrics by Stephen “Wicked” Schwartz and book by Joseph Stein) lacking. “Rags” flopped on Broadway but a well-received, revised production is currently on at Goodspeed in Connecticut until December 10th. (Details here.) How wonderful it would be to see this version back in New York. Broadway may not be hospitable — maybe a nonprofit?
