Comparing Musicals In Show Boat, Memphis, And West Side Story

Write about three musicals that we have studied that engage with the topic of race and ethnicity in America, drawing parallels and comparisons between the three and noting contrasts.
The American Musical has often been used as a medium in which uncomfortable issues were boldly addressed. This has been the case for the issue of race and ethnicity in America, in particular the following musicals: Show Boat, Memphis, and West Side Story. The first two musicals addressed the issue of the integration of African Americans into American culture, with Show Boat, set in the early 1900s, focusing on the difficulty of true racial blending in America, and with Memphis, set in the 1950s, focusing on the still difficult task of desegregating black and
All three musicals make use of failed marriage tropes, possibly implying the failure of attempting to integrate races in America, at least during that time period. However, the reasons for which the interracial couples fail in each musical are different, which makes each musical unique. Also, the musical numbers serve to further emphasize the attempts at solving the problem of racial discrimination in America.

Show Boat focuses on the impossibility of racial integration in America during the early 1900’s. The powerful song “Ol’ Man River” is sung by Joe, a black dock worker. The song is sung in the “black” dialect, with the pronunciation of potato as “’taters,” and saying them as “’em.” In this number, Joe reflects on the indifference of others, in particular whites, on the plight of him and his fellow black workers. This reveals the injustice towards blacks, but also the resigned apathy the blacks are unfortunately feeling. In addition, Show Boat follows the life of couple Steve Baker and Julie La Verne and lovers Gaylord Ravenal and Magnolia Hawks. Surprisingly, Julie is well acquainted with African song and dance, and is able to sing “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” a “black” song, even
The tensions between the two racial groups (Sharks and Jets) are high, and it does not help either that the Puerto Ricans do not even feel like they belong in America in the first place. This is related in the number “America,” where the idealistic Puerto Rican women are shot down by the pessimistic and realistic Puerto Rican men. The song is sung as a seis de controversia, a Spanish style of rhythm, which is an improvised argument of exchanged taunts with sly insults slipped in every so often. The banter between the Sharks and their girlfriends reveal the difficulties that Puerto Ricans face living in California. When the girls say “Life is all right in America,” the boys counter with “If you’re a white in America.” The tension and the injustice are apparent, and Puerto Ricans are unfairly unaccepted by the whites in New York. However, two star-crossed lovers still find each other, but unfortunately find it impossible for them to find a place where they can live happily. This is seen in the number “Somewhere,” which implies tragedy, as if there is no path to this “somewhere.” There is also an unresolved tritone at the ending of the song, suggesting the insolvability of this problem for Maria and Tony. The end of the musical with the death of both Tony and Maria reveal the difficulty and near impossibility of integration of blacks and whites in America, because it can