Showboat
Showboat
Showboat#3
Posted: 5/30/18 at 11:46am
As a young person in 1995, I don't think I'll ever see a more glorious production than the "Showboat" at the Gershwin. Rebecca Luker, Lonette McKee, John McMartin and the wonderful Elaine Stritch...so huge! That production was so grand they had (probably) every single person in the cast onstage at times, way out on both sides of the proscenium. One of my youngest theater experiences that I'll always remember.
As for today, with all the awareness of old themed storytelling, stereotypes and all inclusive/colorblind casting, I think it would be very challenging, but not impossible...
Showboat#4
Posted: 5/30/18 at 1:23pm
The head of Lincoln Center Theatre mentioned Showboat as a score he loved but that the book is " beyond problematic."
This was during an interview with Bartlett Sher about My Fair Lady. It was received in London recently, but I feel it would probably fly better over there.
Showboat#5
Posted: 5/30/18 at 2:44pm
Oh please it was written in 1927 and was VERY progressive for its time. Think of all the 19th century operas that would be banned by today's standards. The Moore of Venice would not be PC. The score puts all others to shame. It was done in Chicago about five years ago and was a great success. Maybe you don't have to go full bore on language like the 1988 McGlinn version, but the rest holds up as a reflection of the time it takes place (1880's) and the time it was written (1920's).
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