Editor, The Beacon:

I recently had the opportunity to view a performance of the musical Ragtime at the Athens Theatre.

It was a vivid reminder of our past, present and what could be our future that I would recommend anyone experience.

The show depicts the social and international events that occurred during the turn of the 20th century as lived by individuals from an upper-class family in New Rochelle, New York; members of the struggling minority community in the big city; and newly arrived European immigrants; all of them seeking fulfillment of the American Dream.

As you witness the lyrical portrayed events mingled with historic figures such as J.P. Morgan, Harry Houdini, Theodore Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington, Emma Goldman and others, you can’t help but equate much of the dreams and hopes we all still find ourselves seeking today.

Ragtime is a production and story that makes us think and reflect on our lives today. With all of the mixed signals and confusion that inundate us, the dream reflected gives us something better to aspire to.

Go see Ragtime; it will help you appreciate the lessons our history offers us.

Larry French

Deltona