100 Years of Audience Delights
As the new Marketing Director of Portland Ovations this is my first blog and it is a little exciting, I have to say. I have only been a part of a few events here in my first month, but since I worked for a musical theatre company for three years, I feel Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway is an appropriate event to begin with.
One habit I have brought with me from previous jobs in marketing the performing arts is to watch the audience as much as the show. My personal opinions of a performance are one thing, but to see and hear the joy of an audience watching the show is another. And when an audience is truly delighted and engaged in what’s coming from the stage, I feel my job is validated. I had that experience on Saturday night as I watched Neil Berg and his Broadway pals belt out tunes from current musicals and from an era gone by. Things have changed a lot on Broadway. The times and influences on the Broadway musical as a genre have changed, but the warm, lit-up faces of an audience that is charmed and full of smiles has not. I saw a lot of couples out for Valentine’s Day. I heard a lot of audible reactions to familiar songs that bring back memories. I heard people enjoying a good time and I am proud to have been a part of it.
Also, seeing some local singers get on stage and join the show at the end was encouraging to the future of the art form. It was a fun night and I hope you enjoyed it too. If you were at the performance for a special night out and had that warm, lit-up experience while there, I’d love for you to post a note about it.
I’m excited to be here and I look forward to our future conversations.
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Will Hertz says:
In his comments , Nick comments favorably about the show’s “historical behind-the-scenes perspectives.” This is generally true, but there was one such comment – about “Old Man River”—that was historically inaccurate and warrants correction.
In introducing the song, Neil Berg said it was an important contribution to the civil rights movement. The truth is that the song, when first sung in the 1927 musical “Show Boat”, contained highly racist lyrics and was offensive to many African-Americans. Over the years, these lyrics were rewritten or deleted by both African-American and white singers including Paul Robeson, William Warfield, Al Jolson and Frank Sinatra.
Further, lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II made heavy use of “minstrel show” pronunciations of English. This included, for example, “Dere’s ” an ol’ man called the Mississippi”, “Git a little drunk and you lands in jail”, and “Ah gets weary and an sick of tryin’, Ah’m tired of livin’ an skeered of dyin”. In his song recitals, Robeson corrected these offensive pronunciations, and other singers followed his lead.
The civil rights movement shunned the song. While the lyrics depict vividly the oppressive life of an African-American manual laborer, the singer Joe is resigned to his lot while “Old man river keeps moving along.” The civil rights movement, in contrast, sings of hope and its struggle for change; its anthem is “We shall overcome.”
At the Portland concert, bass-baritone Raymond McLeod omitted the offensive lines and pronunciations, but he could not blunt its moving but defeatist message.
In his comments on the show above, Andrew C. Gilbert points out that “The times and influences on the Broadway musical as a genre have changed.” This is particularly true in dealing with racial problems, and Oscar Hammerstein is a case in point. Twenty years after “Show Boat”, he included in his lyrics for “South Pacific” the song “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught,” an eloquent sermon against the inculcation of racial prejudice in children.
JB says:
Raymond McLeod was particularly outstanding. Sadly the domain mcleodonstage.com which is listed in the program has expired, and I have no way to contact him to tell him how much my wife and I enjoyed his heartfelt renderings of songs we love (Some Enchanted Evening) and even songs we never cared for (Impossible Dream). Perhaps he’ll read this blog one day.
Carol Brooks Petelle says:
I wish I could see 100 Years of Broadway again next weekend! What a fantastic show! The lengthy standing ovation said it all! Thank you! Thank you!
Susan Tuthill says:
I treated 2 friends to this show and was delighted that the singing was so wonderful. I recognized most of the pieces which was even better. We happened to be sitting directly behind the daughter who sang Happy Birthday to her father. That was such a treat!
Diane Potter says:
My husband and I enjoyed the Neil Berg show and hope they return. The quality was excellent.
Dick says:
The show was a perfect documentation of a snapshot of Broadway at its best! And performed by a cast that was outstanding in quality and presence. As always, Ovations brought the right show at the right time of year to warm a Maine winter !!
Nick says:
I had my doubts going in, but became a believer as this unique show progressed: the experience of the performers, the historical behind-the-scenes perspectives, the banter on stage, the professional voices, and last, but for me best, the surprise ending with young local singers on stage with the pros…doesn’t get much better than that. Congratulations!!
JT says:
Having just been in NYC and seen a Broadway show the week before, it was wonderful to have this level of talent available here in Portland. With each song, the audience was more and more drawn in and entertained. It’s clear more shows of this caliber and genre need to be on the calendar. Thanks for bringing this to Maine!
Ann Marie Owens says:
This was one of the best shows ever put on by Portland Ovations!! Please have more of the same.