Show Boat

Act I Mississippi in 1887: the show boat “Cotton Blossom“ travels up and down the river with its variety show. Captain Andy and his wife Parthy have assembled a first-class troupe – featuring the comedy duo Frank and Ellie as well as serious actor Steve and starlet Julie La Verne. Backstage, the Afro-American cook Queenie and her husband Joe work tirelessly to keep the boat running. After sundown, Andy’s daughter Magnolia falls in love with Gaylord Ravenal, who aimlessly travels the riverbank by day and tries his luck at the gambling table at night. Unbeknownst to Magnolia, the sheriff is keeping his eyes on her new acquaintance. The next day, the sheriff causes a scandal on deck: Tipped off by engineer Pete, he publically denounces Julie’s Afro-American origin, which she has kept a secret so far. Not only does this deem her marriage to Steve illegal but forbids her to share a stage with white performers. Steve and Julie leave the boat, accompanied only by the silence of those watching. Magnolia, Julie’s best friend, takes her place on stage. For lack of a better option, Andy hires Gaylord as male lead – after all, he is good-looking and will surely prove himself worthy of the role. On stage and off, Magnolia and Gaylord become a couple. Not even Parthy’s disapproval of her daughter’s choice can prevent a blissful wedding.

Act II Magnolia and Gaylord welcome their baby daughter Kim and leave the show boat towards Chicago. The years go by. When Parthy and Andy receive a puzzling letter from their daughter, they decide to pay her a visit at New Year’s Eve. They are not the only ones travelling to Chicago. Frank and Ellie have arrived, too, looking for an apartment for the duration of their engagement at the local club Trocadero. When they visit a humble inn, they are surprised to
run into Magnolia, who lives in poverty and can barely afford her rent. Ellie and Frank learn that Kim lives at a convent school, when a letter arrives. It’s by Gaylord, who admits to having lost all their money and bids his farewell. Magnolia, heartbroken, takes Frank’s advice to audition at the Trocadero. Little do they know that Julie performs at the club but takes her leave when she recognises her friend from afar. At New Year’s Eve, Magnolia enters the stage nervously but gains in confidence when she recognises her father in the audience: a new star is born. Time goes by once again. The family reunites on the “Cotton Blossom“. Magnolia has quit her stage career but passed her talent on to Kim. It’s the 1920s, a new era. Only for Queenie and Joe, nothing seems to have changed at all …