East Kilbride Light Opera Club

Showboat - 1993

Index

History

The Cast

Showboat - Synopsis

cover of programme The story begins in 1890. Captain Andy Hawkes plies his showboat, the "Cotton Blossom" up and down the Mississippi providing entertainment at each stop. He is accompanied by his long suffering wile Parthy Ann and his daughter, Magnolia. His troupe consists of a dramatic duo, husband and wife Steve Baker and Julie La Verne, the latter a devoted friend of young Magnolia, and a comedy song and dance pair, Ellie May Chipley and Frank Schultz.

All is well until it is discovered that Julie, who is married to a white man, is of negro stock — a cardinal sin in this part of the world at that time. The show in Natchez is doomed to close as Julie and Steve are forced to leave the "Cotton Blossom". Then Gaylord Ravenal arrives, hoping to escape his dark past in Natchez. He inadvertently answers Captain Andy's prayers for a leading man and immediately falls in love with Magnolia. Magnolia is poised to take Julie's place as the dramatic actress in the show, despite the opposition of her mother. Parthy eventually discovers that Gaylord had been acquitted of murder, but this does not prevent his marriage to Magnolia.

The action now moves to Chicago, to the 1893 World Fair. Ravenal is earning his living by successfully gambling and he and Magnolia appear to be enjoying a good life.

Frank and Ellie, now a successful vaudeville act, accidentally meet Magnolia some eleven years later in 1904, in a second rate rooming house, where she is living with Gaylord and their seven year old daughter, Kim, who is at convent school. Gaylord, who has been having heavy gambling losses sends a letter to Magnolia saying that he is leaving her, but vowing his lasting love. Frank and Ellie now appearing at the "Trocadero" suggest that Magnolia audition there as a singer to ease her meagre income.

Julie, now without Steve, who has deserted her, is the star attraction at the "Trocadero" and has a serious drink problem. She hears Magnolia's audition and leaves unseen to make the way clear for Magnolia to take over her role.

Captain Andy meets up with his daughter in the "Trocadero" on New Year's Eve, but it is not until 1927 that he manages to re-unite Magnolia, Gaylord and their daughter Kim, who is now a Successful Broadway star.

Some Pictures

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Showboat - 1993
by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd

Music by Jerome Kern
Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the novel by Edna Ferber

Production Team
Producer - Jack Tait
Musical Director - S. Gordon Lang
Choreographer - Margaret Hay

Cast
Queenie - May Campbell
Steve - Bruce Griffin
Pete - Craig Allan
Parthy - Elaine Anderson
Windy - Edward Peirce
Rubberface - Bill Ginn
Capt. Andy - Tom Johnston
Frank - Wilson Paterson
Ellie - Claire Johnston
Julie - Barbara McElroy
Gaylord Ravenal - Colin Thomas
Vallon - Ken Lawton
Magnolia - Kate McGhee
Joe - Douglas Muir
Backwoodsman - Donald Corbett
Jeb - Jim Maxwell
1st Barker - Gordon Ferguson
2nd Barker - Jim Barr
Landlady - Frances Doyle
Max - Mark Devine
Jake - Gordon Ferguson
Kim (aged 7) Man, Wed, Fri & Sat eve. - Lisa McTaggart
Kim (aged 7) Tues, Thur and Sal Mat. - Claire Mathieson
Kim (grown up) - Dawn Smith

Ladies of the Chorus
Morag Arthur, Dorothy Bedford, Alison Bennet, Gillian Dunker, Carol Edison, Norma Fingland, Anneliese Gannon, Hazel Hampson, Wendy Hayes, Shona Jenkins, Betty MacAulay, Margo McTaggart, Marylin Maxwell, Eileen Montgomery, Pauline Moscardini, Elizabeth Rennie, Jacqueline Robb, Elizabeth Sorbie, Linda Watson.

Gentlemen of the Chorus
Bruce Arthur, Jim Barr, lan Conroy, Donald Corbett, Robbie Crawford, Bill Crudge, Mark Devine, Simon Dunkley, Gordon Ferguson, Bill Ginn, Bruce Griffin, Peter King, Robert Kirkham, Jim Kirkpatrick, Robert McDermott, Jim Maxwell, Edward Peirce, Martin Russell, Harry Sheridan, John Stewart, Bill Struthers, Gilbert Wedgwood.

Dancers
Gillian Dickson, Lori McElroy, Dawn Smith, Gael Smith, Linda Raeburn.

Stage Manager - William J Porter
Club Accompanist - Nan McKechnie
Lighting - Carrick McGhie
Property Mistress - Susan Struthers
Wardrobe Mistresses - Margaret McFadyen, Anna McGillivray
Leader of Orchestra - Andrew Wilson
Prompter - Frances Baird

Synopsis of Scenes

Act I
Scene 1 The Levee at Natchez. on the Mississippi. In the Eighties.
Scene 2 Kitchen pantry of the "Cotton Blossom". Five minutes later.
Scene 3 Auditorium and stage of the "Cotton Blossom". One hour later.
Scene 4 Box-office, on foredeck. Three weeks later.
Scene 5 Auditorium and stage during the 3rd Act of "The Parson's Bride" that night.
Scene 6 The top deck. Later that night.
Scene 7 The Levee at Greenville. Next morning.

Act II
Scene 1 The Midway Plaisance, Chicago World's Fair, 1893.
Scene 2 A room on Ontario Street, 1904.
Scene 3 Rehearsal room, Trocadero Music Hall. A few days later.
Scene 4 St. Agatha's Convent. About the same time.
Scene 5 Trocadero Music Hall. New Year's Eve, ringing in the year, 1905.
Scene 6 Stern of the Show Boat, 1927.
Scene 7 Top deck of the "Cotton Blossom". That night.
Scene 8 The Levee at Greenville. The next night.

Musical Synopsis

Act I
"Cotton Blossom" - Chorus
"Showboat Parade & Ballyhoo" - Capt. Andy
"Only Make Believe" - Ravenal and Magnolia
"Old Man River" - Joe and Men
"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" - Julie, Queenie, Magnolia, Joe & Coloured Chorus
"Life Upon the Wicked Stage" - Ellie, Girls and Dancers
"Ballyhoo" - Queenie and Dancers
"You are Love" - Magnolia and Ravenal
Finale - Chorus

Act II
"At the Fair" - Chorus and Barkers
"Why Do I Love You" - Magnolia, Ravenal and Chorus
"Bill" (Lyric by P. G. Wodehouse) - Julie
Reprise "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man " - Magnolia
Service and Scene Music, St. Agatha's Convent
Reprise "Only Make Believe" - Ravenal
"Goodbye My Lady Love" Cake Walk - Frank, Ellie and Dancers
"After the Ball" - Magnolia
Reprise "0l' Man River" - Joe
Reprise "You are Love" - Kim, Dancers and Chorus
Finale - Entire Company