|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 160 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
|
 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 S
| Of the creative team that would produce "Show Boat", who was the first to read the book and conceive the idea of turning it into a musical? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
Jerome Kern. Kern read the book and excitedly asked drama critic Alexander Woolcott, a mutual friend of his and Ferber's, to arrange an introduction.
About 40 years. According to the libretto, the first scene takes place on the Natchez levee about 1890. The final scene explicitly takes place in 1927 (there is a posted announcemen of Lindbergh's arrival in Mexico City). The book covers a longer period of time - from Magnolia's childhood to about her early sixties.
| The role of Cap'n Andy has been performed by Joe E. Brown, David Wayne, Donald O' Conner, Gail Gordon, Eddie Bracken, Ned Beatty, Robert Morse, and John Mc Martin, among others. Who created the role in 1927? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
Charles Winninger. Winninger was a veteran stage, screen ("Three Smart Girls", "Nothing Sacred", "State Fair"), and later television star who had started at the age of nine appearing in his family's vaudeville act. Ironically, one of their appearances was at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, which is the setting for Act Two, scene 1 of "Show Boat".
| At Ziegfeld's insistence, the song "Misery's Comin' Around" from act one was removed, although it has been reinstated in some recent productions. Where in the show does it occur? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
Just before the "Miscegenation Scene". "Misery's Comin' Around" is a song of foreboding; at one point Julie joins in, but soon begs the others to stop singing it. It sets the mood for the scene that follows. A segment of it is reprised after Julie and Steve leave the stage to gather their belongings.
| In the first scene of the show, we learn that Gaylord Ravanel cannot legally stay more than 24 hours in town; we are not told the reason until the wedding scene. What is the reason? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
He killed a man (supposedly in self-defense).. At the end of Act One, we find out from Parthy Ann (along with Pete and Sheriff Vallon) that the reason Ravanel cannot stay more than 24 hours in any one location is that he killed a man, albeit in self defense. Magnolia is about to marry Ravanel at this point; the revelation, strangely, does not seem to phase either her or her father. Parthy, however, faints when it is revealed that they are getting married.
| Several different numbers were written for Kim's big solo in the last scene of the show. Which was the first to have been written (although it wasn't performed)? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
It's Gettin' Hotter in the North. "It's Gettin Hotter in the North" uses the melody of Magnolia's quaint piano solo from Act One and turns it into a hot jazz number. Norma Terris, the original Magnolia/Kim, didn't like it and persuaded Kern to write a reprise of "Why Do I Love You" which would enable her to do her specialty - imitations of Beatrice Lillie, Ted Lewis, Ethel Barrymore, and others. "Dance Away the Night" was written for the 1928 London production. "Nobody Else but Me", the last song Kern would ever write, was written especially for Jan Clayton (famous for creating Julie Jordan in "Carousel") in the 1946 revival.
Four. After the first scene, he sings it under the dialogue following Julie and Steve's departure in the "Miscegenation Scene", again (with different lyrics) at the beginning of Act Two, scene 7, then once more, with the chorus, in the "Finale Ultimo" at the very end of the show. It is also heard being hummed by the chorus in Act One, scene 7, just before "You Are Love".
| What is the name of the melodrama being rehearsed during the "Miscegenation Scene", which is also performed later with Ravanel and Magnolia in the leads? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
The Parson's Bride. The story concerns a young widow happily engaged to a country parson, until her "dead" ne'er-do-well husband returns.
Sweet Adeline. "Sweet Adeline", which details a vulnerable young actress's search for true love, included the songs "Don't Ever Leave Me", "Here I Am", "Poor Wet Fish", and "Some Girl is on You Mind", and the classic "Why Was I Born", which, along with "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" became one of Morgan's signature numbers.
| Which veteran actress, known to both stage and screen audiences, created the role of the formidible Parthy Ann Hawks? (Hint- she starred in a number of film versions of great novels.) | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
Edna May Oliver. Oliver was an old hand at playing uptight, straightlaced characters like Parthy (remember her as Lady Catherine in "Pride and Prejudice", Aunt Betsy Trotwood in "David Copperfield", and Miss Pross in "A Tale of Two Cities"?). She and the feisty Winninger must have been a memorable combination. Unfortunately, she opted out of recreating the role for the 1936 film version, having been simultaneously offered the dream role of the Nurse in "Romeo and Juliet" (with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer), so we'll never know just how memorable. Other notable Parthys have been the acidulous Helen Westley (Oliver's replacement in the film), Nancy Kulp ("Miss Hathaway" from "The Beverly Hillbillies") on the 1988 EMI recording, Elaine Stritch (in the 1991 Broadway revival by Hal Prince), and those two "witches", Margaret Hamilton (in the 1960's Lincoln Center production) and Agnes Moorehead (in the 1951 film version).
| The song "Why Do I Love You" is, on the surface, an ecstatic duet between the two lovers. What indication do we have during the song that all is not as blissful as it seems? | "Show Boat" (The Original)
|
Ravanel leaves Magnolia halfway through the song to go gambling.. The song is preceded by a scene between Magnolia and Parthy in which we learn the Magnolia has not yet told her mother what Ravanel's "profession" is. Later, Ravanel returns and announces that he has had a winning streak and is taking his party out on the town (Magnolia, however, must return home to look after baby Kim). Magnolia, clearly still in what we now call "denial", begins this rapturous duet with her husband which, however, they never finish (the chorus picks up after Ravanel leaves, then Magnolia dances off and the song is concluded by Cap'n Andy, who sings it to Parthy.). In the original production, Ravanel was seen during the following "Dahomey" number in the company of several young lovelies.
Can't Help Lovin' That Man. She sings the song Julie taught her. Coincidentally, Julie, now a famous, but down-and-out chanteuse, hears her and, sensing that she must desparately need the job, sends word to the manager that she is "going off on a tear" (a drinking spree), so the manager will hire Magnolia.
527 performances. An impressive run for the time.
Cap'n Andy and Queenie. Cap'n Andy performs his Ballyhoo in the first scene to rally the townsfolk to see the show. In scene 5, when Andy complains to Queenie tha they haven't sold any balcony seats, Queenie tells him that he doesn't know how to sell to "her" people and performs an uproarious ballyhoo of her own which sells out the balcony seats.
Miles Kreuger. I would be remiss if I did not mention Kreuger's invaluable 1977 book "Show Boat" the Story of a Classic American Musical", a gold mine of information about the show (history, various productions, stage versions, movie versions, trivia, etc.). Kreuger also wrote the introduction to the libretto of the 1988 EMI recording of the complete original score, conducted by John McGlinn, which includes a fascinating interview with Goldie Stanton Clough, Ziegfeld's secretary.
| In the beginning of the play, everyone Mary knows in India dies of the cholera. How is this symbolized in the play? | The Secret Garden
|
with red handkerchiefs. This is during the menacing sounding song entitled simply, "Opening". The play is done in a mysterious and dark tone, and the bright red flags produce a wonderful effect. The people that Mary knew in India follow her throughout the play as haunting ghosts.
Mandy Patinkin. What an amazing talent this man has on Broadway and in TV and movies. One of the best singers, I think, in the world. Most know him from the TV show, "Chicago Hope". My favorite role of his is the avenging Inigo Montoya from "The Princess Bride".
| Mary hears someone crying throughout the play, and discovers who it is halfway through the play. Who is this mysterious crier? | The Secret Garden
|
Colin Craven, her cousin. In the beginning of the play, the crying sounds very eerie, and if you've never read the book, or heard the story before, you are surprised to find it's a real person, and not one of the ghosts.
his father, Archibald. Part of the evil Uncle Neville's plan is to keep Colin in a bed and tell him he's sickly, and to tell Archibald that he will make it worse if he visits him while Colin's awake. And so, Archibald visits him while he's sleeping and tells him stories at night.
| Colin does not have confidence to visit the Secret Garden and convinces himself he will die. Who sings to him and calls him to the Garden? | The Secret Garden
|
The ghost of Lily. Lily, Colin's mother, sings "Come to My Garden", a duet with Colin while he sings, "Lift Me Up".
| What is the name of the song sung by Neville and Archibald together, after the first storm? | The Secret Garden
|
Lily's Eyes. In my opinion, the best and most powerful song of the play if performed correctly. Here, it comes out that Neville was also in love with Archibald's wife, Lily, and Mary Lennox has the same eyes that Lily has.
The plant has a life about it and a will to grow. "You give a living thing
A little chance to grow
That's how you will know
If she's wick, she'll grow."
| When Mary could ask her Uncle Archibald for anything in the world, what does she ask for? | The Secret Garden
|
A bit of Earth. Archibald is shocked because his late wife, Lily, would have asked for the same thing; she loved her garden.
| When Archibald leaves the house, after he gets Mary's letter to come home, what happens to allow him to finally rest? | The Secret Garden
|
The ghost of Lily comes to him, and he finally lets her go. This is the most romantic song in the play. He sings that he does not how he can live without loving her. She sings that she could not have known she would have to leave him. Then he finally realizes, he can always have her in his heart, must care for their child. He goes home and lives happily ever after with his niece and son.
Jacob. Scrooge was Marley's only attendant at Jacob's funeral.
Timothy Cratchit. Out of the mouths of babes!
Boss at an earlier time. Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig sang the uproarious "December the 25th" in the musical "Scrooge."
The Spirit of Scrooge's Sister. Fan died giving birth to Scrooge's nephew.
Fred. Fred kept happy, in spite of being "poor enough."
Scavengers and Thieves. Scrooge's first big song in the musical was the ever-happy "I Hate People!"
Epiphany. Dickens loved the 12th night of Christmas (Epiphany) the best.
|
Fun Trivia | 
Quizzes | 
Games
| 
People | 
Services | 
Help | 
Me
