Stars Of Tomorrow Let Down My Musical Of Yesteryear

A musical is only ever going to be as good as it's score, sadly it just felt like a poor man's Les Miserables. 

This year’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama graduate showcase is the Charles Strouse and Stephen Schwartz musical, Rags. Based on a novel by Joseph Stein, Rags follows a group of hopeful immigrants who flee Russia in search of a better life in America. 

Rebecca Hershkowitz, a Jewish mother travels to America to be reunited with her husband, who she hasn’t seen in six years. However, when her boat docks in America there is no sign of her husband. Without a male relative to collect them, Rebecca and her young son David are in danger of immediate deportation. Luckily they are saved from this fate when their friend Bella pleads with her father to offer them lodgings. All alone, in a strange a foreign land they soon learn that the American dream that they had envisaged doesn’t live up to the reality of what they encounter. 

With an audience rammed with talent scouts, agents and proud parents, the final year Guildhall students were all keen to impress. Rags lends itself well to a student production as the songs are evenly spread between the characters giving all the pupils an opportunity to showcase their talent. For me, the piece was at its strongest during the ensemble numbers. The first of these was the highly emotive song ‘Children Of The Wind’, which was impressive not only due to the sheer volume of the piece but because their voices blended together beautifully. 

Within this strong ensemble there were a few standout performers: Lois Meleri-Jones coped with Rebecca’s challenging score really well. I also thought Ryan Van Champion’s portrayal of Ben was very accomplished, so much so his rendition of ‘Yankee Boy’ wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a West End Stage. 

Rags is one of Strouse and Schwartz’s lesser known works; this was my first encounter with this musical and sadly I found it disappointing. Although I relished the numbers being accompanied by a live orchestra,  I didn’t leave the auditorium humming any of the tunes as the songs themselves lacked character. The Guildhall students did the best they could with what they were given, but ultimately were let down by the choice of show which I think was a real shame.