Media’s ‘Show Boat’ is mighty see-worthy (By Howard Shapiro) Inquirer Theater Critic

“At Media, the expressive Phillip Boykin makes the song his own passionate declaration,”

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.

This frequent use of “Ol’ Man River” is good news for the audience, because it means they get to hear plenty from the remarkable Phillip Boykin as Joe. Boykin, who played Joe in the national tour of “Show Boat,” receives a screaming, whistling, thunderous ovation from the NSMT opening night audience after his great performance of “Ol’ Man River,” and a roaring standing ovation at the curtain call after the show.

“Showboat’s real star is Cleveland Opera singer who plays Joe.  A commanding presence, with a broad chest, arms the size of tree trunks and a rich baritone, Boykin easily held the audience’s attention as he sang and reprised a rolling, almost impossibly low, rendition of Ol’ Man River.”

“…Ol’ Man River – powerfully sung by Phillip Boykin as Joe.”

– “Whenever I hear “Ol’ Man River,” Joe’s big song, I hear echoes in my head of Paul Roberson and William Warfield- two great basses I have heard in the role. Now I will hear Boykin’s stunning bass voice. He is superb.”

“And Boykin, an opera and gospel singer, brings humor, gravity and much-needed substance to the part of the deckhand Joe.“

“Clearly the star Tuesday evening was big-voiced Phillip Lamar Boykin, who portrayed Joe, the show boat’s black stevedore.”  Boykin, who possesses a resonant bass, did wonderful things to Ol’ Man River several times.  “His voice practically chook the theater’s rafters and not surprisingly, he stopped the show with his emotional rendition.“

“And its hard to imagine a voice stronger than that of Phillip Boykin, who sang the best rendition of “Ol’ Man River” that I can remember.  Boykin with barrel-deep bass, exhibited exceptional control, even as his voice dived down to the depths on the last word of the line, “Get a little drunk and you land in jail.”

“If you love Jerome Kern’s decades-spanning catalog of America popular music, you’ll hear it pretty well”.. especially “Ol’ Man River,” “With his huge upper body, his warmly doleful countenance, his playful manners in Queenie’s kitchen and that supple, confident voice, Boykin is a vision of black manhood as mythic as any in Faulkner.“