My question for this Wednesday is for DR Elmore.
Dear DR Elmore,
I have been watching the dvd of Show Boat by the San Fransisco Opera as well as watching the concert version from PBS (it is still online). Also listening to the cd of the revival from several years ago.
I find it interesting how different they are. The first act is pretty much the same (added song or deleted song), but the second act has some changes.
In the SF Opera version, Magnolia is the Broadway star and Adult Kim only appears as a non-speaking part in the last scene. In the other versions, Kim is the one who went on to be the big Broadway star.
Do you know why in some versions there are different songs? "I Have the Room Above Her" is in the revival version. "Dance the Night Away" is in the SFOpera version. "I Might Fall Back on You" is only in the concert version. Were some songs deleted because the show is too long?
Yes, I know McGlinn made an excellent recording. Maybe someday when I place an order with Amazon I will remember to buy it.