This ‘Show Boat’ offers a memorable voyage

Looking back at 1927, it can be hard to appreciate how revolutionary "Show Boat" was when it opened on Broadway. A musical in which the story took precedence over the song-and-dance numbers was a dramatic departure from the escapist comedies and frothy musical revues that dominated the Broadway stage. Even more challenging than the format was the subject matter. More than half the 48 states prohibited marriages between blacks and whites, and one of the central story lines concerned the marriage of a white man and a woman who appears to be white but is classified as black under American race laws.

As if that weren’t enough, "Show Boat" also presented African-Americans as sympathetic, well-rounded characters.

The show’s frank presentation of the ugliness of racism, including the use of the "N-word" in appropriate contexts, has resulted in varying degrees of bowdlerization over the years. Diamond Head Theatre Artistic Director John Rampage makes only a few concessions to modern sensibilities with his beautifully staged revival production of "Show Boat" at DHT.

The black dockworkers refer to themselves as "colored folk," but the "N-word" and its antiquated feminine equivalent rings out with jarring impact several times thereafter. Each time it’s used it becomes a character marker that fouls the character using it rather than the person being spoken to.

Of course, racism is only one of the issues in this story of five couples and their experiences between 1887 and 1927. Rampage makes this revival production especially memorable by casting unfamiliar faces in three major roles. Each of them is a marvelous find.

» John Sloan III (Joe) makes "Ol’ Man River" a showstopping highlight number every time it occurs in the show. Sloan’s voice captures all the emotional nuances in the lyrics, and his acting completes a superb performance.

» Anthony Feliciano (Ravenal) radiates charisma from the moment he appears onstage. Feliciano’s powerful operatic voice matches his macho masculine build.

» Lea Woods Almanza (Magnolia Hawks) is making her DHT debut after a career in opera. She too brings a magnificent voice and finely shaded acting to the show.

Several DHT veterans stood out in the show, as well.

Alison L.B. Maldonado (Queenie), most recently a spark plug in DHT’s staging of "Stepping Out," brings a strong voice and a great sense of comic timing to a demanding character role. Maldonado is also a perfect partner for Sloan on their numbers together.

Tricia Marciel (Julie LaVerne) touches all the right spots as the mixed-race entertainer. Marciel makes "Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man" a moment of unconscious revelation. Her bitter, deftly nuanced rendition of "Bill" is a touching swan song.

Lisa Konove (Parthy Ann Hawks) lives up to expectations as the catalyst for most of the show’s comical moments.

Fedrico Biven (Capt. Andy Hawks), a secondary player for years at DHT, takes a big step forward career-wise with his commanding performance as the boat’s jovial owner.

It’s been 52 years since DHT’s last production of "Show Boat," so don’t miss this staging. Decades from now it will still mean something to say, "I saw DHT do ‘Show Boat’ in 2014."