Tateh and the little
girl are Latvian
Jewish emigres in
the New World.

transformation."
Arima said he continuously goes
back to Doctorow's novel and finds
something new — a little more insight
on a character or a moment that he
relays to the actors. In this vein, he
said, Ragtime's message is contempo-
rary, even though the show is set
about 100 years ago.
"That's what keeps me involved in
so many ways — the show breathes
hope for change and justice," he said.
"It gives us this window into a world
that was more resistant to change than
the world today but also puts a mirror
up and says, 'Look at where you came
from.
Jim Corti, whose grandparents
immigrated to the United States from
Sicily and Italy, said he uses his own
family's experiences to bring life to the
part of Tateh. The 51-year-old actor,
who played Harry Houdini in the
original Broadway cast, plays the
Latvian Jewish immigrant who comes
to America seeking a better life for his
young daughter after his wife has died.
Although Tateh experiences the anti-
Semitism pervasive during that era,
the role speaks volumes about the lives
and tenacity of all immigrants, Corti
said.
"Tateh survives through determina-
tion, and most of all, his love for his
daughter," he said. "I had tremendous
love for my grandmother, and I see
her experience in Tateh. The part is
inexhaustible as an actor — I could

never do him justice. But now I have
this man to portray, and that's such a
privilege as an actor."
Corti, like Gutzi, said the role has
caused him to re-examine his own life.
"My grandparents passed down to me
that 'you're going to have everything
that I didn't have,' but not that inner
resourcefulness," he said. "That is
something one has to find on his
own."
Ragtime, said Gutzi, solicits emo-
tions ranging from laughter to tears,
while providing a unique exchange of
energy between the performers and
the audience.
"It is a piece that deserves to be
seen," she said. "People need to see a
piece with this kind of integrity about
this country. It's been a privilege to
breathe life into a character that was
real — somebody alive who left her
energy here.
"It's an awesome, powerful responsi-
bility."

j

P-1

ri

❑

Ragtime — The Musical will be
performed 8 p.m. Tuesdays-
Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Sundays,
March 27-April 15, at Detroit's
Fisher Theatre. S35-$75. For
information, call (313) 872-1000.
Tickets may be purchased at the
Fisher Theatre box office and all
Ticketmaster outlets. To charge
by phone, call (248) 645-6666.

37646 W. 12 Mile Road

(Corner of Halsted Rd.)

In Halsted Village
Farmington Hills

(248) 994-4000

26356 Ford Ro
In The Heights all
Dearborn Hei

(313) 278-6000

Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 11 to 10 Friday, 11 to 11 Saturday, 4 to 11 Sunday, 1 to 9

3/23
2001

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