"One hopes the production will restore 'Raisin' to its rightful place in the musical theater canon—not because it takes up relevant social and political topics (which it does), but because it's a fine show with compelling music and lyrics, and sharp, elegant prose...The powerhouse acting distracts you from the the tinny, thin piano, but mics would have shown off the performers' voices...'Raisin' achieves its end: the arousal of empathy and commitment to racial and social justice."
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“Bondarin’s thrilling direction takes advantage of the rhythm in famous lines from Hansberry’s play and Woldin’s score…Few American musicals deal with race in the delicate but powerful way in which ‘Raisin’ does...While Hansberry’s play is rightfully celebrated, there is something primal that comes through when we hear the characters sing about their plight, the music truly communicates with us at a soul level…An absolutely necessary musical.”
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“APAC’s deeply felt, soulful revival of ‘Raisin’ left me warmed and transported…Sometimes a big score will overwhelm and drown out the stillness and subtlety of such a story. Happily, APAC’s production maintains the delicacy—expanding the emotional reach of the world just enough…In a story of people with difficult lives, the jazz-inflected score injects a measure of joy and transcendence…‘Raisin’ is sure to be a welcome balm to sooth, comfort, and uplift.”
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