Show Boat review | 'You’ll come out singing, smiling, and ready to see it again'

Home to Cats for a 21-year stint that must have driven the usherettes mad, the New London Theatre has housed a few musicals since (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a big hit, and Gone With The Wind, a huge flop) but none to boast the historical significance, sublime tunefulness and sheer exuberance of Show Boat.

Theatre historians always cite the 1927 musical, with tunes by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, as a Broadway landmark – the first show to integrate story and score. It certainly shows up the virtually plot-less Cats for being all shallow spectacle and no subtext. It’s no wonder it’s been revived time and time again and never better than this current production, which sails into the capital on a wave of rave reviews after a run at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

SHOW BOAT by Hammerstein, Emmanuel Kojo; Sandra Marvin, Writer - Oscar Hammerstein II, Director - Daniel Evans, Designer - Lez Brotherstoni, Lighting - David Hersey, Choreographer - Alistair David, Music - David White, The New London Theatre, London,, UK, 2016, Credit - Johan Persson - www.perssonphotography.com /

Reviewers are raving again and it’s no wonder. Directed by Daniel Evans (a superlative singer who’s refashioned himself as a terrific director), this new Show Boat is as glistening as sunlight on the Mississippi – that might river on which the floating Cotton Blossom theatre journeys as it brings together entertainers, workers and one studly gambler named Gaylord Ravenal in the four decades between 1887 and 1927.

Played here by Chris Peluso, who sings like an angel but also taps into the character’s darker side, Gaylord beguiles captain’s daughter Magnolia Hawks (Gina Beck, charming). But this groundbreaking musical isn’t just a wallow in romanticism; things don’t run smoothly for our love-at-first-sighters and the show also addresses interracial marriage, race relations, freedom and equality, which was radical back in the 1920s and still resonates today – especially given what’s going on in North Carolina with its anti-LGBT stance.

Image | Johan Persson

Evans masterfully juggles a lot of characters, with Sandra Marvin wonderful as ship’s cook Queenie and Alex Young great fun as rowdy showgirl Ellie. There are some great songs (Ol’ Man River, Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, Only Make Believe) and a couple of rousing big numbers that blow the roof off the theatre.

The theatre itself doesn’t feel right for the show. It has grotty public areas and no charm, whereas Show Boat has charm to spare, but the semi-circular auditorium and thrust stage create a sense of intimacy that recent bigger productions lacked. Treat yourself. You’ll come out singing and smiling and ready to see it again.

RATING: 5/5

Show Boat is at the New London Theatre. For more information and tickets visit showboatmusical.co.uk.

For the best deals on tickets for theatre, musicals and shows, visit tickets.attitude.co.uk.

Words: Simon Button

Show Boat review | ‘You’ll come out singing, smiling, and ready to see it again’

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