Music Review: Show Boat

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Music Review: Show Boat

1. Show Boat was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and based on a book by Edna Ferber.
2. The novel was condensed for the musical because of the material it possessed which veered away from the generic elements of the Broadway scene at the time. Accordingly, the comedy that thrived in Broadway during this period was casual and coincidental. Based on the foundations of burlesque, vaudeville, and European opera, musical comedies were simple sequenced songs, routine comedy schedules, and dance sequences that did not necessarily follow a particular story or narrative. In this respect, the interest in the novel, as Kern exhibited, was sufficient to condense the respective narrative into a musical that would alter the landscape of musical comedies and performances on the Broadway stage.
3. The purpose of the first scene involved its ability to integrate the exposition of the character and the plot with significant musical expression. Usually, musical theaters are limited in terms of time, especially when it comes to the establishment of the performance’s characters as well as the premises of the key plot. This is because expression in musical form consumes more time in contrast to speech.
4. The major characters that are not introduced in the opening minutes comprise Julie Laverne and Magnolia. They are not evident in the opening of the performance since they are introduced by the notes evident in the music during the respective scene. In addition, the introduction and interaction of the main characters assumes a role in integrating them within the story.
5. The two key themes explored in Show Boat are racial integration via the depiction of interracial marriage and the presence as well as impact of stereotypes.
6. A prop song is a tune that is sung especially when the respective character takes part in an event or scene that requires or provides for the act of singing.