REVIEW: Porgy & Bess

Photo by Francesco Carrozzini

The Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess has landed in St Paul like a hurricane of opera, gospel and soul music that will stir you to your core. Most of us are familiar with at least a few of the songs that feature prominently in the Gershwins’ classic musical, particularly Summertime and I Got Plenty of Nothing, even if you don’t think you are. This is a classic American show that you just have to see in person.  The cast drips with talent like a glass of ice water in late July, but no one more so than the eponymous Porgy, played by Nathaniel Stampley. Stampley has a voice that is so warm and rich, it’s hard not to want him to sing in all of the musical numbers.  I found myself hanging on every note he sang, hoping his songs would go on forever.  That is not to discount the other performers, all of whom could headline for any other musical out there without breaking a sweat.

The songs and score are beautiful and performed with incredible emotion and depth.  Interestingly, the most well-known songs are some of the least operatic numbers of the production.  This adaptation pushes the source material toward a more musical theater style, which was done to expand the audience and reach a younger crowd.  As a fan of both opera and musical theater, I did kind of wish that the adaptation would have picked one and stuck to it, rather than try to straddle both genres.  But it’s also difficult to put aside the influence of the innumerable interpretations of such frequently performed numbers, like “Summertime” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, so they had their work cut out for them.

The set is simple, as are the costumes, but that just puts the story and the performances front and center.  I enjoyed every moment of this performance, so I suggest you clear your calendar and get over to the Ordway straight away!

Porgy & Bess is at The Ordway through March 30, 2014.

Tickets start at $33. DEAL ALERT:  Click here for information on The Ordway’s Student Rush Ticket Program.