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Showboat
SHOW BOAT (LIBRETTO)
BOOK AND LYRICS BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
MUSIC BY JEROME KERN
ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL
"SHOW BOAT"
BY EDNA FERBER
Act One
1.Overture
2.Cotton Blossom
3.Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo
4.Where's The Mate For Me?
5.Make Believe
6.Ol' Man Rive
7.Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
8.Life on the Wicked Stage
9.Till Good Luck Comes My Way
10.Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun'
11.I Would Like To Play a Lover's Part
12.I Might Fall Back on You
13.Queenie's Ballyhoo
14.Villain Dance
15.You Are Love
16.Finale Act One
Act Two
17.At the Fair
18.Why Do I Love You?
19.In Dahomey
20.Convent Scene
21.Make Believe (Reprise)
22.Bill
23.Magnolia's Audition: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Reprise)
24.Trocadero Opening Chorus
25.Appache Dance
26.Goodbye, My Lady Love
27.After the Ball
28.Ol' Man River (Reprise)
29.Hey, Feller!
30.You Are Love (Reprise)
31.Cotton Blossom (Reprise)
32.It's Getting Hotter in the North
APPENDIX
33.Pantry Scene
34.Waterfront Saloon Scene
35.Yes, Ma'am!
36.Kim's Imitations (Why Do I Love You?)
37.Dance Away the Night
38.A Pack of Cards
39.The Creole Love Song
40.Out There in an Orchard
41.Gallivantin' Aroun'
42.I Have the Room Above Her
43.Nobody Else But Me
Act One
1.Overture
[The Orchestra]
2.Cotton Blossom
SCENE ONE
Opening Scene
(The levee at Natchez on the Mississippi. About 1890. The towboat
"Mollie Able" is up R. The show boat "Cotton Blossom" is up L. STEVEDORES
are piling up bales of cotton at R. WINDY an old pilot, stands on the
Texas deck of the towboat, smoking his pipe and looking on)
STEVEDORES
Niggers all work on de Mississippi
Niggers all work while de white folks play-
Loadin' up boats wid de bales of cotton,
Gittin' no rest till de Judgement Day.
GALS
Git yo'self a bran' new gal,
A lovin' baby who's de apple of yo' eye.
Coal black Rose or high brown Sal,
Dey all kin cook de sparrer grass an' chicken pie!
STEVEDORES
Hey! Git along, git along,
Git along, git along.
Hey! Git along, git along,
git along, hey!
STEVEDORES & GALS
Niggers all work on de Mississippi
Niggers all work while de white folks play -
Loadin' up boats wid de bales of cotton,
Gittin' no rest till de Judgement Day!
Cotton blossom, cotton blossom,
Love to see you growin' free.
When dey pack you on de levee
You're a heavy load to me!
Cotton blossom, cotton blossom,
Love to see you growin' wild!
On de levee you're too heavy
For dis po' black child!
(STEVE enters from the show boat and places a picture frame
left of the gangplank. PETE, the engineer, enters from the
towboat. Coming down C., PETE and STEVE exchange dirty looks.
STEVEDORES work upstoge to a pile of bales. GALS sit around
on bulkhead, leaving downstage clear. QUEENIE, the cook,
waddles on from market with a basket of provisions on her head)
QUEENIE
Lordy, mah feet shure is killin' me dis mornin'.
STEVE
Mornin', Queenie.
QUEENIE
Mornin', Mars' Steve.
PETE
Hey there, nigger! Where y'all git dat brooch you're wearin'?
(WINDY takes his pipe from his mouth)
QUEENIE
You mean dis scrumptious piece of jewelry?
PETE
Where'd you git it, nigger?
QUEENIE
It was give to me.
PETE
Who give it to you?
QUEENIE
Ax me no questions 'n ah'll tell y' no lies!
(to herself, as she walks towards the show boat)
Dat man! Axin' me where ah gets mah jewelry! Hm!
(QUEENIE exits. STEVE scowls at PETE and exits after QUEENIE.
PETE plunges his hand in his pockets and goes upstage. WINDY
replaces his pipe in his mouth)
STEVEDORES & GALS
Niggers all work on de Mississippi,
Niggers all work while de white folks play
Loadin' up boat wid de bales of cotton,
Gittin' no rest till de Judgement Day!
Cotton blossom, cotton blossom,
Love to see you growin' wild!
On de levee you're too heavy
For dis po' black child!
(A group of dainty, beruffled MINCING MISSES enter from R. and L.
They go over to the pictures. The GALS move upstage again, imitating
the white girls' mincing gait)
1st MINCING MISS
The center picture is Julia LaVerne, the leading lady.
(PETE turns and slouches downstage)
2nd MINCING MISS
My - isn't she beautiful!
(The local BEAUX make a dashing entrance from stage right,
like the young bucks they are - they stand off and ogle the
demure maidens. PETE hangs around the picture frames as the
GIRLS turn to be demure for the BEAUX)
BEAUX
What a pretty bevy!
Ah! There! Ah, there!
The fairest of the fair
To Southern beauty
Ev'ry beau must bow!
MINCING MISSES
How you love to flatter,
You rogues! You rogues!
(confiding to audience)
Oh, goodness gracious!
They're so flirtatious!
(to Beaux)
You naughty fellows
Seem to think you please us
When you tease us
So!
You're a reckless lot
We know!
BEAUX
Little women don't be timorous!
You will find acting thus
Only makes a man more bold!
These are not the days of old!
BEAUX
(each grabbing a Mincing One)
See! The show boat!
That's old Captain Andy's "Cotton Blossom,"
Will you go?
Let me take you to the show!
GALS
H'yah! Look live dere!
GIRLS
Twil1 be delightful,
But to rightfully accept I have to make Mama
Get permission from Papa!
STEVEDORES & GALS
H'yah! Look live dere!
GIRLS & BOYS
(reading handbills)
Captain Andy has gathered a troupe
In the greatest of drammers and jolly comedies.
Stephen Baker, the handsomest leading man
And beautiful Julie LaVerne as well!
STEVEDORES & GALS
Ho! Ho! Ho!
BOYS & GIRLS
"Cotton Blossom,"
Captain Andy's floating show!
Thrills and laughter,
Concert after,
Ev'rybody's sure to go!
"Cotton Blossom," "Cotton Blossom,"
Captain Andy's floating show!
Thrills and laughter,
Concert after,
Get your girl and go!
STEVEDORES & GALS
Cotton blossom, cotton blossom,
Love to see you growin' free,
When dey pack you on de levee
You're a heavy load to me.
Cotton blossom, cotton blossom,
Love to see you growin' wild!
On de levee
You're too heavy
For dis po' black child!
BOYS & GIRLS
So get your girl and go!
STEVEDORES & GALS
So let dat whistle blow!
(PETE steals JULIE's picture from the frame. WINDY takes
his pipe from his mouth PETE hastily puts picture out of
sight as he slinks away and exits onto the towboat. PARTHY's
voice is heard off stage)
PARTHY
(off stage)
Andy!!!
(She enters)
Drat that man, he's never around!
(MAGNOLIA is heard practicing the piano on board
the "Cotton Blossom")
WINDY
(from the Texas deck)
Lookin' for Cap'n Andy?
PARTHY
Yes, Windy - have you seen him?
WINDY
Nope.
(He puts his pipe back in his mouth)
PARTHY
Well - if y' ain't seen him, why did you ask
me if I was lookin' for him?
(WINDY has an irritating way of not seeming to hear)
Y'old weather-beaten buzzard! I'm goin' to tell my husband
to get a new pilot...
1st MINCING MISS
Is that your little girl playing the piano?
PARTHY
Yep - ain't so little any more - eighteen this comin' August.
1st MINCING MISS
I've brought a chocolate cake for Captain Andy.
2nd MINCING MISS
And I have some plum jelly for him
PARTHY
Well, he ain't around and the Lord knows when he will be.
3.Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo
(The band is heard in the distance)
BOY
Here comes the Show Boat parade!
(The CROWD gathers, shouting and waving their hats. Some
coloured children run on, leaping, dancing, throwing their
hats in the air. CAPTAIN ANDY enters from stage R., with a
girl on each arm, behind him the brass band and balance of
the troupe and followers. He finishes stage C.)
GIRLS
(presenting candy, etc., to ANDY)
Captain Andy, Captain Andy,
Here's your lemon cake and homemade candy.
Quince preserve and apple brandy;
Mama sends her best regards to you.
GIRLS & BOYS
Captain Andy, Captain Andy,
We've been hearing all about your dandy Show.
Is this year's good as last year?
Won't you tell us what is new?
ANDY
Ladies and Gentlemen - I want you to meet some of the greatest
artistes that ever played the river town... Miss Ellie May Chipley,
the toast of Cairo, Illinois.
(applause)
C'mon, Ellie!
(He pulls her by the hand to the center.
All applaud. ELLIE simpers)
Next, I want y'all to meet Frank Schultz
(FRANK steps out - applause)
Mr. Schultz is the villain in our play - but off the stage, he's
as meek as a lamb, and wouldn't hurt a fly - and he's stuck on Ellie.
(All laugh lightly - but ANDY laughs the loudest)
That's they way they are, folks - jest one big happy family! And I'm
their father -
Ha! Ha!
(GIRLS laugh)
And Parthy here is the mother -
Ha! Ha!
(All laugh)
What about that, Parthy?
PARTHY
Oh, y' make me sick!
ANDY
(coughing)
Jest one big happy family! Now, folks I want you to meet the little
sweetheart of the South - Miss Julia LaVerne, our leading lady
(applause)
Y'all know her, and y'all love her - what more can say? And we have
another famous ornament of the stage with us - Mr. Stephen Baker! The
handsomest leading man in the middle west!
(STEVE, who has been scowling at PETE, achieves a prop smile. The
GIRLS gasp admiringly)
So here we are, folks - jest one big happy family!
ANDY
Look't we got! Look't we got!
How can we fail? How can we fail?
You never seen a show like this before!
We'll try to make the evening bright,
And if you come around tonight,
Tomorrer night you'll come around for more.
GIRLS & BOYS
Captain Andy, Captain Andy
You know how to make a show sound dandy.
ANDY
Frank and Ellie,
C'mon, let's show 'em
Jest a sample of your soft-shoe dance!
PARTHY
(the note of warning - she has stood enough)
Captain Andy! Captain Andy!
ANDY
(pleading)
Jest a sample
PARTHY
What a man! My land, he
Gives away his show for nuthin'!
ANDY
(to FRANK and ELLIE)
Jest a sample of the dance!
(He signals the band, turns to the crowd and beams as the dance
begins. At the finish of the dance FRANK and ELLIE strike a pose)
Looking out to sea!
(At the end of the dance ANDY applauds with so much gusto
that the crowd would be ashamed not to follow suit. ANDY
begins passing out handbills)
Well, folks, that was jest a sample - don't forget the bill tonight -
"Tempest and Sunshine" - that beautiful melerdrammer of tears and
laughter concert after the show - Bring the children - come one, come all!
(ANDY works upstage among the crowd - part of the CROWD gathers
around JULIE and STEVE, the BOYS around JULIE, and GIRLS around STEVE,
so they are temporarily separated. These admirers, however, keep at
some little distance as they stand and worship their idols of the stage.
PETE slinks up to JULIE)
PETE
Hey, Julie! That's hell of a thing to do - giving my present to a nigger -
JULIE
(nervously)
Pete - if Steve ever knew about you sending me that brooch, I declare
he'd just about beat you to death -
(STEVE sees PETE and JULIE together)
PETE
Well, he'd better not try, and you better be pretty nice to me -
or you'll be mighty sorry -
(STEVE has come up to PETE- he takes his arm
and swings him around so that he faces him)
STEVE
I told you to keep away from my wife. I reckon I won't do
any more talkin' about it.
(Holding PETE's arm, he strikes him and
knocks him down. JULIE screams)
JULIE
Steve! Don't!
(The men clinch - PARTHY sees them)
PARTHY
Andy!
(PETE and STEVE struggle - GIRLS shriek, the crowd
mills around the two men as they wrestle. ANDY hops
about ineffectually. PETE falls - ANDY rushes in and
holds STEVE)
STEVE
I'll kill him!!!
ANDY
Get on that boat!
(FRANK runs up - ANDY sort of passes STEVE to FRANK, who
leads him back into the boat STEVE, half dazed with anger,
and weakened by the nervous outburst, follows meekly, dimly
realizing he has done something wrong. ELLIE helps PETE to
his feet. ANDY looks around - the CROWD looks puzzled - he
must say something. Suddenly he becomes inspired)
ANDY
Well, folks - that was jest a sample. The boys jest showed
you a scene from one of our bills - that's the way they are,
folks... always skylarking, always playing pranks.
(He looks around at a horrified PARTHY and ELLIE,
solemn JULIE, and PETE, just coming to)
...Jest one big happy family!
(He gives the band the high sign - they strike up a tune -
"Cotton Blossom". He cheers and throws his hat in the air -
his good spirits infect the CROWD. who follow suit and join
in singing "Cotton Blossom" as they exit)
ALL
Cotton Blossom, Cotton Blossom,
Captain Andy's floating show!
Thrills and laughter,
Concert after,
Get your girl and go!
(This exit masks the entrance of a gentleman in
elegant but frayed clothes, who has paused up C.
This is GAYLORD RAVENAL. He leans against the
bulkhead and looks out over the river. His face is
not yet seen. ANDY, ELLIE, PARTHY and JULIE are
left on stage. PETE confronts JULIE)
PETE
Just wait! I'll get you two for this, and I know how I can do it -
and when I start in, you'll be sorry you were ever born -
ANDY
You get away from here, you little no-account river rat!
You're fired!
(PETE exits)
An' if y'ever come near my show boat again, I'll pitch you right
into the river! And don't try to get on the towboat either...
(looking up to WINDY)
Y'hear that, Windy?
(WINDY nods)
Throw him right off the boat.
(WINDY nods)
We'll pick up a new engineer in Fort Adams.
PARTHY
(Looking hard at JULIE)
Humph - nice goin's on!
ANDY
(looking sympathetically towards JULIE)
It wasn't Julie's fault, Parthy -
PARTHY
'N you protectin' her!
JULIE
The one thing I'm grateful fer is that Magnolia wasn't here -
PARTHY
So am I - an' I'll be grateful for somethin' else, Miss LaVerne -
I'll have to ask you to stop givin' Magnolia pianner lessons.
In fact, I don't want my daughter mixed up with you - or anybody
like you -
JULIE
Mrs. Hawks - please don't say that - Nola is like a little sister
to me - outside of Steve, I don't love anybody like I love Nola -
(crossing to ANDY)
Mr. Hawks - if I have to stop seeing her - I can't stay on the
Cotton Blossom - I just can't!
(She runs into the show boat as the tears come rushing to her eyes)
ANDY
Now you done it - now you done it!
The best leading lady on the river!
ELLIE
(coyly snuggling up to ANDY)
Oh, Cap'n Andy, if Julie goes, will you give me a chance
at the leads? I'd love to get a crack at a serious part -
I'd be a sensation in drammer.
ANDY
Why, Ellie! There ain't a funnier girl on the river 'n you are!
ELLIE
(anxiously clutching his arm and kneeling)
Oh, Captain Andy, don't! Don't stamp your foot down
on real actin' ability!
PARTHY
(grimly)
Leave go my husband's arm -
(ELLIE edges away gingerly. PARTHY turns her attentions
to ANDY. During the following tirade he doesn't dare answer.
He stands meek and still)
An' you - you think more of your show boat troupe than you
do of your own daughter's upbringing - Well, thank God, her
mother had a good Christian bringin' up in Massachussetts.
Where I come from, no decent body'd touch this show boat
riff-raff with a ten foot pole - let alone have their
daughters mixed up with them - I'll have more to say to
you, later!
(She exits into the boat. ANDY waits until she's gone -
then, oblivious to ELLIE'S presence, he answers PARTHY back)
ANDY
(walking up and down and arguing
with his imaginary adversary)
Oh, you will, will you? Well, maybe I'll have somethin' to say
to you, too - 's far as that goes I'd just as soon have her be
friends with Julie as any gal I know - yes - Julie! You heard me!
(He sees ELLIE)
My God - I'll tell her!
PARTHY]
(off stage)
Andy!!!
ELLIE
Are you going to tell her all that now?
ANDY
No - I'll tell her tonight - late. I don't want any more trouble
before the show. Jest one big happy family - bah!!
(ANDY exits into the show boat ELLIE turns away
from the boat and sees RAVENAL-)
ELLIE
It's a man...
(RAVENAL turns, and we see him for the first time - so does
ELLIE. He strides down-stage, nonchalantly swinging his cane.
She thinks he's grand - she drops her handkerchief. RAVENAL
picks up her handkerchief and hands it to her with courtesy)
ELLIE
Thank you so much.
RAVENAL
Delighted to be of service, Ma'am.
(ELLIE gives him a flirtatious glance and crosses left.
RAVENAL looks after her, mildly amused. He takes the long
cheroot from his mouth and looks at it reflectively. VALLON
enters from stage R. RAVENAL sees him. They regard each
other coolly for a moment)
VALLON
Back in town, Gay?
RAVENAL
For a short stay...
VALLON
Can't be more than twenty-four hours, you know.
RAVENAL
Give me time, can't you? I haven't been twenty-four
hours stepping off the gangplank onto this wharf,
have I? I can get back on just as quickly.
(With impulsive irritation, he throws his
half smoked cheroot to the ground)
VALLON
No offense, Gay - just thought I'd remind you in case
of trouble. It'd be terrible to have you locked up -
all the purty gals on the river front'd be cryin'
their eyes out. Where you aim to go from here?
RAVENAL
Who cares? Who cares where I go?
VALLON
Seegar?
(As he proffers a cigar, RAVENAL raises
his eyebrows disdainfully)
RAVENAL
What did you call it?
VALLON
See-gar.
RAVENAL
Optimist. .
(VALLON shrugs his shoulders and walks off R. RAVENAL
swings his cane airily and strolls up and down as he sings:)
4.Where's The Mate For Me?
RAVENAL
Who cares if my boat goes upstream,
Or if the gale bids me go with the river's flow?
I drift along with my fancy
Sometimes I thank my lucky stars my heart is free -
And other times I wonder where's that mate for me?
(MAGNOLIA begins again on the piano, off stage. He looks up.
She hesitates in her fingering at a certain point. He pantomimes
the serious anxiety a listener always feels, hoping she'll hit
the right note. He sits on a cotton bale and goes on with his
musing, idly tapping his cane on the ground)
RAVENAL
The driftwood floating over the sea
Someday finds a sheltering lee,
So, somewhere there surely must be
A harbour meant for me -
(MAGNOLIA enters on the upper deck of the show boat)
I drift along with my fancy -
Sometimes I thank my lucky stars my heart is free,
And other times I wonder where's the mate -
(He turns and sees MAGNOLIA. What a picture! A very young
face, and a fluffy dress all pink with flowers and everything -
and she is becomingly shy - yet bold enough to return his gaze -
and to speak first)
MAGNOLIA
Hello...
RAVENAL
(taken by surprise - an unusual thing)
Er - how do you do?
MAGNOLIA
Do you live here?
RAVENAL
No - I'm just a way-farer along the river
MAGNOLIA
So am I - which way are you going?
RAVENAL
Either way - where are you going?
MAGNOLIA
Anywhere Papa gives shows.
RAVENAL
(a trifle jarred)
Oh - are you a player?
MAGNOLIA
You mean like on the pianner? Yes - I play a little.
RAVENAL
Oh - was that you I heard just now -?
MAGNOLIA
Yes - that was me!
RAVENAL
(under his breath)
What a pity!
MAGNOLIA
What did you say, Mister?
RAVENAL
Er - when I asked you if you were a player - I meant -
are you an actress?
MAGNOLIA
Oh - no - but I'd give anything if I could be.
RAVENAL
Why?
MAGNOLIA
Because you can make believe so many wonderful
things that never happen in real life.
RAVENAL
But wonderful things do happen - this very day
I was standing here on the levee - feeling blue -
and suddenly I looked up, and -
MAGNOLIA
I must go now -
RAVENAL
Why?
MAGNOLIA
Well, you see, you're talking to me - and I don't know you -
RAVENAL
Does that really matter so much?
MAGNOLIA
N-no - not to me - but they say it isn't nice.
RAVENAL
If you like to make believe things, why can't
we make believe we know each other?
MAGNOLIA
Oh, yes - and we haven't seen each other for seventy-five
years, and you're my long-lost nephew - there's a scene
like that in a play called "The Village Drunkard."
RAVENAL
No - seventy-five years is too long - besides, I don't
think I'd like the idea of being your nephew. Let us
imagine that we've just met -
MAGNOLIA
But we really have.
RAVENAL
Yes - but let's just suppose that we've fallen in love
at first sight.
5.Make Believe
(sings:)
Only make believe I love you,
Only make believe that you love me.
Others find peace of mind in pretending -
Couldn't you?
Couldn't I?
Couldn't we?
Make believe our lips are blending
In a phantom kiss, or two, or three.
Might as well make believe I love you,
For to tell the truth, I do.
(He steps back)
Your pardon I pray,
'Twas too much to say
The words that betray my heart.
MAGNOLIA
We only pretend,
You do not offend
In playing a lover's part.
The game of just supposing
Is the sweetest game I know.
Our dreams are more romantic
Than the world we see
RAVENAL
And if the things we dream about
Don't happen to be so,
That's just an unimportant technicality.
MAGNOLIA
Though the cold and brutal fact is
You and I have never met,
We need not mind convention's P's and Q's.
If we put our thoughts in practice
We can banish all regret
Imagining most anything we choose.
We could make believe I love you,
We could make believe that you love me.
MAGNOLIA & RAVENAL
Others find peace of mind in pretending,
Couldn't you,
Couldn't I?
Couldn't we?
RAVENAL
Make believe our lips are blending
In a phantom kiss - or two - or three.
MAGNOLIA & RAVENAL
Might as well make believe I love you,
RAVENAL
For to tell the truth, I do...
(RAVENAL reaches up and kisses MAGNOLIA's hand.
They stand and gaze at each other. VALLON enters
from R. followed by JOE, who is carrying a sack
of flour, which he places on stage up C.)
VALLON
Ravenal - the Judge'd like to see you.
RAVENAL
What for?
VALLON
Nothin' serious - but I reckon you'd better come along
and have a talk with him.
(RAVENAL turns to MAGNOLIA)
You will excuse me, ma'am? I hope I'll see you again -
in a little while.
(He bows and exits grandly with VALLON, patting
the top of his hat with a flourish and swinging his
cane. MAGNOLIA looks after him adoringly. Then
she sees JOE looking at RAVENAL curiously)
MAGNOLIA
Oh, Joe! Did you see that young man I was talkin' to?
(JOE turns)
JOE
Mornin', Miss Nola... Yep - I seed him - seed a lot
like him on de river -
MAGNOLIA
Oh, Joe, he was such a gentleman! Have you seen Miss Julie?
I got to tell her - I got to ask her what she thinks -
(MAGNOLIA exits L.)
JOE
Better ask de ol' river what he thinks - he knows
all 'bout dem boys... he knows all 'bout everythin'...
(JOE sits on a box, takes out a knife, picks up a shaving
and starts to whittle, idly, as he sings:)
6.Ol' Man Rive
JOE
Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi;
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be!
What does he care if de world's got troubles?
What does he care if de land ain't free?
Ol' Man River,
Dat Ol' Man River
He mus' know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin',
He jes' keeps rollin',
He keeps on rollin' along.
He don' plant taters,
He don' plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
But Ol' Man River,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.
You an' me, we sweat an strain,
Body all achin' an' racked wid pain -
Tote dat barge!
Lift dat bale!
Git a little drunk,
An' you land in jail...
Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin';
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But Ol' Man River,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.
(BARGE MEN enter, pulling rope, during the following
verse. The curtains close in, leaving JOE and MALE CHORUS
in front, in one)
Niggers all work on de Mississippi
Niggers all work while de white folks play,
Pullin' dem boats from de dawn to sunset,