Ragtime, St Andrew's Church, Hove, March 12 (From The Argus)

Ragtime, St Andrew's Church, Hove, March 12

9:28am Tuesday 15th March 2011 in Stage Reviews By Louise Schweitzer

Tragedy struck the Brighton Theatre Group at their opening performance on Saturday (March 12).

Principal Mark Valentine collapsed during a show that, despite tradition to the contrary, could not go on.

Despite this, the audience heard enough to appreciate the high standard. The principal voices of Mark Valentine, Gary Lynn, Melanie Perry and John Azzopardi would grace any operatic stage.

The band – pianist and musical director Simon Gray, bass Jasper Kent and percussionist Gareth Thompson – struck up the familiar syncopated rhythms of American rag as the costumed cast filed around the old altar.

This concert show of the musical, adapted from a 1975 novel, tells the story of life in 1930s Harlem to demonstrate contradictions in wealth and poverty, and also freedom and prejudice.

The serious themes of Ragtime make it an unusual choice for a Brighton group whose recent productions have included Jesus Christ Superstar and The Full Monty.

Founded in 1968, the BTG have played to loyal and supportive audiences at Theatre Royal Brighton and the Pavilion Theatre with an ensemble chorus capable of projecting perfect musical drama.

The cohesion of this celebrated theatre group was demonstrated offstage as well as on, as they cared for fellow actor Mark Valentine, now recovering.