East Kilbride Light Opera Club - Showboat

Showboat - 1969

Index

History

Showboat - Synopsis

cover of programme

The late nineteenth century was the era of the show-boat on the Mississippi. These cumbersome floating theatres plied between the various "levees" whence came aboard the white and coloured population to be enthralled by a stirring melodrama followed by a concert. Cap'n Andy's "Cotton Blossom" was one of these show-boats, and we first meet him, amiable and exuberant, presenting to the interested crowd his talented company—nimble-footed Frank, comedienne Ellie, leading lady Julie and her leading man and husband, Steve. A fight between Steve and Pete, a jealous admirer of Julie, threatens the general harmony, and causes Andy's martinet of a wife, Parthy, to express her regret that their daughter, Magnolia, should be exposed to the dangers of such a life. Her anxiety would have increased had she witnessed Magnolia's meeting with Gaylord Ravenal, an irresponsible but charming gamester about whom we know nothing, save that Sheriff Vallon has warned him to leave town at once. It is love at first sight for Magnolia and Gaylord Ravenal but a foreboding note is struck by the old Negro, Joe's, sad song, cleverly placed to follow the meeting. Magnolia hastens to tell Julie her secret, knowing that she will understand as her life revolves round Steve.

Tragedy strikes at Julie when a rehearsal is interrupted by the arrival of Vallon to denouce her publicly as half Negress. Pete has betrayed her, but Steve, by running a blade across the tip of Julie's fingers and sucking the wound greedily, dramatically acquires Negro blood and ranges himself with her. They leave together. Against Parthy's wishes, Magnolia takes over Julies' part, and, to replace Steve, Frank intro- duces Gaylord. As they play their parts in the highly-coloured melodrama, their love blossoms, to Andy's delight and Parthy's disgust. On their wedding day the mystery surrounding Gay is dispelled; he had once killed a man in self-defence.

We meet the happy couple next at the World's Fair in Chicago, lavishly spending money as fast as Gay's luck at cards wins it, but after a lapse of nine years our next encounter presents a different picture when Frank and Ellie discover Magnolia in a dingy boarding-house. A letter arrives from Gay stating that out of love for Magnolia he is leaving her and their daughter as he feels he is leading them to ruin. Magnolia's brave pretence collapses, and when she refuses to return to her parents, Frank offers to help her get a job at the Trocadero where he and Ellie have just opened. At this restaurant we again meet Julie, dejected and lonely since her desertion by Steve. Unseen, she watches Magnolia's audition, and, moved by memories evoked by the girl and her song, she leaves quietly, and Magnolia replaces her for the second time.

Cap'n Andy witnesses his daughter's nervous debut, and, by his presence, helps her to turn it to triumph.

Years pass. Magnolia, and later her daughter, Kim, find fame in the theatre. Andy, however, has found something better - Gay - and on the deck of the "Cotton Blossom" the couple again find each other and happiness.

Showboat - 1969
by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd

Music by Jerome Kern
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Production Team
Producer - Jack Tait
Musical Director - S. Gordon Lang
Choreographer - Gillean Dickson

Characters in order of their appearance
Queenie - Jean Stewart
Steve - George More
Pete - Alex Rennie
Parthy Ann Hawks - Elizabeth Rennie
Windy - William Menzies
Cap'n Andy - Denis Hannigan
Ellie - Ann McClintock
Frank - Angus Henderson
Rubberface - Douglas Corner
Julie - Barbara McElroy
Gaylord Ravenal - Leonard W. Johnston
Vallon - Ernest Dodds
Magnolia - Nan Tait
Joe - Steven Russell
Backwoodsman - David Hughes
Jeb - Ian MacDonald
1st Barker - Alistair Currie
2nd Barker - Robert McDermott
3rd Barker - David Hughes
La Belle Fatima - Morag Fraser
Landlady - Frances Doyle
Max - Robert McCrae
Jake - Marshall McKillop
Guitar Player - Edward Callaghan
Announcer At Trocadero - Jerry Hodgson
Lottie - Rhona Blair
Kim - Eileen Jack

Ladies of the Chorus
Elaine Anderson, Rhona Blair, Molly Burns, Anne Daly, Joyce Dick, Frances Doyle, Elizabeth Drennan, Aileen Finlay, Rita Hindle, Joyce McFadyen, Betty Mackay, Agnes McLaren, Ellen Purdie, Margaret Stewart, Ann Struthers, Elizabeth Struthers, Beryl Telfer, Margaret Turnbull, Ann White.

Dancers
Isobel Dornan, Morag Fraser, Lenora Gilmour, Isa Hornal, Eileen Jack, Vivian Scammell, Tom Falsey, James Jenkins, David Nelson.

Gentlemen of the Chorus
Roy Butterworth, Alistair Currie, Tom Falsey, William Gardner, William Henderson, Jerry Hodgson, David Hughes, John Lauder, Robert McCrae, Robert McDermott,Ian MacDonald, Sandy McWilliam, David Nelson, Alex Robertson, William Struthers, James Thomson, David Waters.

Performance Details
3rd March - 8th March 1969
Duncanrig Secondary School,
East Kilbride

Act I
Scene 1 - The Levee at Natchez on the Mississippi. In the late eighteen-eighties
Scene 2 - Kitchen pantry of the Cotton Blossom. A half-hour later
Scene 3 - Outside the Waterfront Gambling Saloon. Simultaneous with Scene 2
Scene 4 - Auditorium of the Cotton Blossom.. One hour later
Scene 5 - Box-office, on foredeck of the Cotton Blossom. Three weeks later
Scene 6 - Auditorium and stage of the Cotton Blossom during the Third Acl of "The Parsons'
Scene 7 - The top deck of the Cotton Blossom. Later that night
Scene 8 - The Levee. Next morning

"Cotton Blossom" - Company
"Only Make Believe" - Magnolia and Ravenal
"Ol Man River" - Joe and Men
"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" - Julie, Queenie and Ensemble
"Life on the Wicked Stage" - Ellie, Girls and Dancers
"I Might Fall Back on You" - Ellie, Frank and Dancers
"Hey! Where Yo Think Your Goin'? - Queenie and Dancers
Dance - Mississippi Dancers
"You are Love" - Magnolia and Ravenal
Finale Act I - Company

Act II
Scene 1 - The midway Plaisance, Chicago World's Fair, 1893
Scene 2 - A room on Ontario Street, 1904
Scene 3 - Rehearsal room of the Trocadero Music Hall. About 5 p.m.
Scene 4 - Trocadero Music Hall, New Year's Eve, 1904. 11.30 p.m.
Scene 5 - In front of the office of "The Natchez Evening Democrat" 1927
Scene 6 - Top deck of the new "Cotton Blossom" 1927
Scene 7 - Levee at Natchez. The next night

"At The Fair" - Barkers and Chorus
Fatima's Dance - Fatima
"Dandies on Parade - Chorus
"Why Do I Love You" - Magnolia, Ravenal and Chorus
"Till Good Luck Comes My Way" - Ravenal and Men
"Washington Post" - Dancers
"Bill" - Julie
"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" - Magnolia
"How'd You Like to Spoon With Me?" - Ellie, Frank and Dancers
"After the Ball" - Magnolia
Reprise—"Ol' Man River" - Joe
Reprise—"You Are Love" - Kirn, Dancers and Ensemble

Stage Manager - Ken Denton
Assistant Stage Manager - David Waters
Hon. Accompanists - Matthew Lang, Marshall McKillop
Lighting - David Roberts
Property Master - Jack McElroy
Wardrobe Mistress - Edna Porter
Leader of the Orchestra - Bert Dudman
Prompter - Irene Roberts
Make-up - Jean Waters

East Kilbride Light Opera Club Committee
Hon. President - Alex McWilliam
Hon. Vice-President - N.J.M. Tait
President - Alistair Currie
Vice-President - Hugh Gray
Secretary - Robert McCrae
Treasurer - David Hughes
Committee
Isa Hornal, Barbara McElroy, Ken Denton, William Struthers, Jack Tait, David Waters.