{"id":193,"date":"2021-04-10T17:42:46","date_gmt":"2021-04-10T21:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredstories.com\/letstalkabouttheatre\/?p=193"},"modified":"2021-04-10T17:42:46","modified_gmt":"2021-04-10T21:42:46","slug":"the-major-issues-behind-show-boat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredstories.com\/letstalkabouttheatre\/the-major-issues-behind-show-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"The Major Issues behind \u201cShow Boat\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The musical \u201cShow Boat\u201d was written in 1927 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This musical dealt with serious issues such as racism and miscegenation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The musical was written during the time of segregation. A lot of the current social issues of segregation led to the displays of racism seen throughout \u201cShow Boat\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The musical also mentions mixed-race marriages many times, which was still illegal in many states during the 1920s.\u00a0\u201cShow Boat\u201d had African American characters played in a sympathetic way, which is something the audience was not very familiar with. The audience at the time was mostly familiar with comedic, minstrelsy shows that used black-face.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although \u201cShow Boat\u201d was very progressive for the time it was written, many things that were in the musical would not have been accepted today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, The n word was said many times through different parts of the musical, including the first opening lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most famous songs from show boat, \u201cOl\u2019 Man River\u201d, also used the N Word during the song.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There have been many revivals of “Show Boat” since the 1920s. The revivals changed the lyrics to \u201cDarkie\u201d, or \u201cColored folk\u201d, or removed the line from the script.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although, this removed the offending n word it did not take out all of the racism in the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many discussions today on whether not theaters should choose to continue to produce and perform \u201cShow Boat\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From my experience, we can\u2019t erase history, and \u201cShow Boat\u201d is a part of history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a theater chooses to perform \u201cShow Boat\u201d to an audience, the audience should be able to have a discussion with the black actors after the show. The open discussion will make the audience learn about what they just watched, and take that knowledge into the future with them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equality and Equity are something theaters should continue to fight for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dealing with the historical history of racism in theater should be a part of moving theater into the next century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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