SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Connecticut
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp DC Review
Showboat
|
Though the cold and brutal fact is
You and I have never met, We need not mind convention's P's and Q's. If we put our thoughts in practice We can banish all regret Imagining most anything we choose. We could make believe I love you, We could make believe that you love me. — Magnolia, on meeting Gaylord Ravenal. |
Will Gartshore as Gaylord Ravenal in Signature Theatre's production of Show Boat
(Photo credit: Scott Suchman ) |
It is easy to understand why Signature Theatre chose to produce the musical as the 100th production in this their 20th anniversary season. The music is glorious, the lyrics charming or sentimental, take your pick, and the story heartbreaking in many ways.
Show Boat is about the hard lives of African-Americans living along the banks of the Mississippi river from 1880 to 1927, the prejudices they faced, and the dashing riverboat gambler who falls in love with the Captain's daughter will be familiar to many who see this production. For those who are seeing it for the first time, the exposition, such as it is, could cause some confusion.
The production as a whole is a bit too subdued. Admittedly, miscegenation, losing (but ultimately getting back) a husband, poverty, and so on are not light subjects. Even so, Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations and Jon Kalbfleisch's firm but gifted direction of the 15-piece orchestra makes up for whatever is less than perfect about this Show Boat. The music is sublime and most of these artists do it justice.
Director Eric Schaeffer has reduced the 4-hour original to a more manageable 2 3/4 hours. He's also dispensed with all but one set by the infallible James Kronzer — and it is not a boat. On the two-tiered set, there is a deck-like structure above. Below, when needed, a stage within a stage is rolled forward. A gangplank-like stair connects the two levels. Lighting designer Mark Lanks adds some clever tricks and unforgettable images, such as lighting the crowns of the cotton pickers' hats and the faces of performers on the river boat's stage. Kathleen Geldard's brightly colored, frilly and fun costumes for the white gentry and River Boat performers, and muted earth tones for the cotton pickers help add to the show's visual appeal.
The performers work well together and there are some standout performances, most notably Will Gartshore as the dashing Gaylord Ravenal — riverboat gambler, loving husband and father whose luck runs out. Every time he's on stage the musical elevates both the production and the audience's appreciation of the beautiful music, lyrics and meaning. His performance, his voice, and his acting are perfection. And he is well-partnered. The "Make Believe" duet he sings with Stephanie Waters' Magnolia brings even the most jaded audience (i.e. the press) to the brink of tears.
Other standouts are Terry Burrell as Julie, the bi-racial victim of racists. Her big number," Bill," elevates the show to a tragic, operatic level, although one wonders why director Eric Shaeffer has chosen to have her deliver most of the aria from behind a piano. Delores King Williams brings a light and cheerful touch to the role of Queenie. "Lovin' Dat Man," the dance she leads, a tip off that Julie has Negro (yes, that's the word used, except when its not reduced to its offensive derivative) livens the first act. Choreographer Karma Camp effectively combines the Cake Walk and African-American vernacular dance with the arm movements used by slaves when picking cotton.
VaShawn McIlwain, in a local-boy-makes-good return to Washington (he graduated from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts) delivers the show's most moving anthem, "Ol' Man River," with suitable solemnity and a well-trained operatic voice. His acting, however, is hesitant. As Rubberface (a playful nickname since the character shows zero emotion), Sam Ludwig makes the most of his vignette. Sandy Bainum as Ellie and Bobby Smith as Frank, performers on the river boat's stage, irritatingly slow down the production's momentum. On the other hand, their boss, Cap'n Andy, played with great affection by Harry A. Winter, brings just the right amount of schmaltz to his role as lovable father of Magnolia and producer of river boat.
Even though Signature's Showboat hits a rough wave every now and then, mostly it moves well. Besides, can't help lovin' dose songs.
|
Showboat Music by Jerome Kern, Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the novel Showboat by Edna Ferber Directed by Eric Schaeffer Set Designer: James Kronzer Costume Designer: Kathleen Geldard Lighting Designer: Mark Lanks Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick Music Director: Jon Kalbfleisch Choreographer: Karma Camp Cast: Delores King Williams (Queenie), VaShawn McIlwain (Joe), Jim Newman (Steve), Chris Sizemore (Pete, Drunk), Matt Conner (Windy), Kimberly Schraf (Parthy), Harry A. Winter (Cap'n Andy), Sandy Bainum (Ellie), Bobby Smith (Frank), Terry Burrell (Julie), Jim Newman (Steve), J. Fred Shiffman (Beau, Backwoods Man, Vallon, Jim), Gaylord Ravenal (Will Gartshore), Stephanie Waters (Magnolia), Sam Ludwig (Beau, Rubberface, Leroy), Helen Hedman (Belle, Landlady, Mother Superior, Old Lady). Running time: 2 hours and 45 minutes Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. http://www.signature-theatre.org. From November 10, 2009 to January 17, 2010. Review by Susan Davidson, based on November 15, 2009 performance. |
|
Subscribe to our FREE email updates with a note from editor Elyse Sommer about additions to the website -- with main page hot links to the latest features posted at our numerous locations. To subscribe,
E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com
put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message -- if you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country. |
|
REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. |
South Pacific
In the Heights
Playbill 2007-08 Yearbook
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide
