“Showboat” The Boston Globe

Among the standouts is Ron Bohmer as the gambler Gaylord Ravenal, whose glorious tenor in “Where’s the Mate for Me?” and “Make Believe” creates a stunning contrast with Phillip Boykin’s impossibly rich bass in “Ol’ Man River.” Kern’s score demands operatic skill from the singers, which can be off-putting if it isn’t grounded in strong acting chops. But Bohmer, as the charming rake, and Boykin, as the stalwart representative of all African-Americans stuck doing the dirty work, give the characters much-needed depth.