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<div class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-family:Palatino">SHOWBOAT,
the first musical play, sails courtesy of <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Mercury Summerstock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">(Member, American Theatre
Critics Association)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood
News Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times</span></i><span style="font-family:Palatino"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">COOLCLEVELAND.COM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">Pierre-Jacques Brault, Artistic
Director of Mercury Summerstock, is not known for thinking small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He confronts projects that other
theatre producers wouldn’t even think of undertaking.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>No matter that he is working on a shoestring budget, is
using a tiny stage, and his company consists of one professional actor and a small
group of dedicated performers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Brault “just keeps rolling along,” ignoring the odds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;text-transform:uppercase;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Show Boat</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_theatre"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">musical</span></a> with music by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Kern"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Jerome Kern</span></a> and book and
lyrics by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hammerstein_II"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">Oscar
Hammerstein II</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was
based on Edna Ferber’s novel of the same name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">SHOWBOAT is one of the most important
musicals ever written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was
responsible for the transition of the American musical theatre from simple
minded <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operetta"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">operettas</span></a>, follies,
musical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revue"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">revues</span></a> and shows that
featured vaudeville acts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was
not, as OKLAHOMA would be some years later, a true, well-integrated musical in
which all the elements—story, songs and dancing—blended together in a way that
one was totally dependent on the other, but it laid down the path to be
followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It ushered in a new
genre for the theatre, the musical play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The plot chronicles the lives of those
living and working on the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Cotton
Blossom</span>, a Mississippi River <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showboat"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">show boat</span></a>, from 1880 to
1927. Like so many of the Hammerstein stories to follow, the show's dominant
theme is social justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In this
case, racial prejudice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And it
ushered in another Hammerstein theme, that of tragic and enduring love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(Think CAROUSEL.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino">KERN’S
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libretto"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;
text-underline:none">libretto</span></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> is exceptional,
especially considering the era from which it comes.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Classic songs include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Make Believe</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Can’t Help
Lovin’ Dat Man of Mine</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Life Upon the
Wicked Stage</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">You Are Love</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Why Do I Love You?</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">After the Ball</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The Mercury cast, especially the African
American performers and chorus, are outstanding.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Brain Keith Johnson’s version and reprises of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Old Man River</i> brought extended cheers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kelvette Beacham (Queenie) was a total
delight presenting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Queenie’s Bally-Hoo</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Mis’ry’s Comin’ Aroun’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Brian Marshall has the handsome looks needed
for Gaylord Ravenal the river gambler who wins the heart of Magnolia, the
daughter of the riverboat’s owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>He used his excellent singing voice well, but for some reason kept
switching accents (e.g., Southern, Irish, general American) and started out
playing the role as a caricature and then switched to realism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Jennifer Myor (Magnolia) has a lovely voice and
nice stage presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Maria Thomas
Lister, as the mixed race Julie, sang her role well, but never got below the
surface in developing a characterization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Hester Lewellen was a fine, stiff-backed
Parthy, Magnolia’s mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mark
Seven feigned facial and line stereotypes as Captain Andy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kaitlyn Dessoffy made for a lovely Kim,
Magnolia’s daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She has a
nice stage presence and fine vocal abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Ryan Neal’s musical direction brought a good
sound from his limited sized orchestra, but needed to inspire volume control
when underscoring speaking scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Brault’s staging was impressive, especially
considering that the show is usually done with numerous massive sets, a huge
cast, lots of period costumes and a full orchestra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:
22.5pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:
Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>SHOWBOAT
is a big, important script that is seldom performed because of the cost and
staging necessities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It gets a
very acceptable production at Mercury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>It’s worth going just to hear </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Brain Keith Johnson
curl your toenails as he sings <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Old Man
River.</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-family:
Palatino"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The show runs
through<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>August 7 in the Brooks
Theatre at the Cleveland Play House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>For tickets call 216-771-5682 or go to mercury summerstock.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div><div> </div><div><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#8000FF">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info. His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal</font></i></div></div></body></html>