PBS to air Lincoln Center Show Boat Friday

I see from all the ads plastered around my display, and confirmed by checking the WNET schedule, that PBS, at least in New York, on Friday at 9:00 pm is finally going to broadcast the concert version of Show Boat that was performed with the New York Philharmonic last November as part of "Live From Lincoln Center.". Of course it won't really be live like South Pacific was. I don't even remember reading about it last year, although there are a lot of things I don't remember well any more. Not too much buzz about it now. Ted Sperling directed.

Reviews?

Any performance of that score backed by a full orchestra has to have a lot of good in it. And it's always interesting to see what songs they include. Kern and Hammerstein wrote more songs for the original production than would fit, and additional songs were written for the first Broadway revival (I think) and the 1930s film.

I read that they actually use the original big closing number, "It's Getting Hotter in the North" that got cut from the original, for time I think, and has never been performed in any major revival or any of the three films. I heard it on John McGlinn's three CD collection of every song ever written for Show Boat and I like it.

Updated On: 10/15/15 at 03:50 AM

"Norm Lewis was also a bit of a let down especially because I could hear a really great bass in the chorus/ensemble."
I agree with this. It's exactly what I was thinking leaving Lincoln Center, and I thought about it again recently. Lewis is simply overcasted these days. I feel like he's in every concert.

I have the VHS of the 1936 film and I just ordered the DVD. I like parts of all three versions that I have seen, the two films and the Hal Prince 1984 revival. Yes, even the splashy MGM film, produced by Arthur Freed, with its signature happy ending.

As in song selection, the creative crew has almost a free hand in deciding where the second act will go. You've got to have Gay desert Magnolia either knowing or not knowing that he had a daughter; Julie secretly finding the destitute Magnolia auditioning for the New Year's Eve job and quitting so Magnolia will get the job; Julie singing "Bill" somewhere, not because the song has any connection to the story, but because it is so popular. And you've got to have Magnolia and Gay meeting again either a few or a lot of years after Gay split and either definitely or possibly reuniting.

The rest is pretty much up to you.

Updated On: 10/15/15 at 10:52 PM

"It's Getting Hotter in the North" was used???? I'm DEFINITELY giving it a watch.

There's something about the opera style that lends itself to it, but yes, their singing voices pick up the emotional heft their acting doesn't. Plus there are a couple of songs you don't see a lot, like Misery's Comin' Around and Till Good Luck Comes My Way

That Great Performances of the Paper Mill production was on when I was in high school and I watched it all the time. I still do every few years.

Is there any recording of the San Francisco Opera production? Either video or vocal.

I doubt that PBS had any choice in not picking the SF show. PBS has been broadcasting Live From Lincoln Center for 41 years (gasp), and the contract probably specified that the show was to be broadcast on PBS as part of the Live from Lincoln Center series.

I agree with many of the above posts - the orchestra sounded great, and it was terrific to hear the rarely used songs like "It's Getting Hotter in the North," and "Misery's Comin' Round." As far as performers, the only standout (for me) was Lauren Worsham as Magnolia, who I felt was exactly right in every way. Williams was being overly-careful of her (never very exciting) voice, Lewis couldn't work the low notes for full value, Ovendon was vexingly nasal, Fitzgerald and Mauzey didn't find much comedy to play (and neither is much of dancer). Jane Alexander and Fred Willard, as Parthy and Andy, were just oddities.

Updated On: 10/16/15 at 11:00 AM

It will be on PBS.com

I'm so excited to watch this tonight!

I'm hearing/seeing this for the first time tonight. I'm not really that thrilled. I agree with the previous posts, ie. Kad, it's just not great as a whole. I mean Norm Lewis is god awful average; if you can't do Ol Man River the right way then why bother? I love Vanessa but this time she's okay. It is nice to hear the seldom staged songs. (The staging is terrible too) Other than that I'm having fun

I could have watched The Bad Seed!! Rhoda!! What can I get for a basketful of kisses?

Updated On: 10/16/15 at 10:53 PM

I will be watching this later - apprehensive about the lukewarm reviews about the production, but hopefully I will enjoy it. I love Lauren Worsham and Norm.

I like Norm Lewis, but not in this. He is not vocally right for Joe. Ol' Man River needs a voice that rings. I saw the '94 revival, the Washington National Opera (the SF Opera production), and what's currently airing on PBS. No one will ever come close to Michel Bell's Joe in the '94 revival. To me that particular production was perfect in my book.

Updated On: 10/16/15 at 11:09 PM