Dark cloud hangs over "Show Boat" lyricist

While the words "Show Boat" immediately bring to mind the 1927
Kern-Hammerstein musical (or perhaps the earlier 1926 Edna Ferber
novel upon which it was based), the writer P. G. Wodehouse is ever
present for those who enjoy one of the key songs, 'Bill', cut from
another Kern-Wodehouse operetta entitled "Oh, Lady! Lady!" about a
decade earlier.

While 'Bill' was not originally written for "Show Boat," it remains
today one of the highlights of the production, as sung by the ill-
fated Helen Morgan character in the original Broadway show.

P. G. Wodehouse is better remembered, today, for his long running
"Jeeves" series, stories that began in 1917 and ended in 1971, as
well as many movie scripts. ("Jeeves" - which is an acquired taste
today - concerned a "gentleman's gentleman" and was set in the late
Edwardian period, also becoming a television series in recent years.)

Thus, it came as a surprise to hear a BBC news broadcast, at 5 a.m.
this morning in Maine (9-17-99), detailing the possible activities
of Mr. Wodehouse in his alternative capacity as a propagandist and
possible spy for the Third Reich, during World War II!  The BBC even
played some of his supposedly funny(?) German broadcasts, of which
there were five, and the listeners were told that MI5 (the British
intelligence unit) had records of his travel expenses, accommodations
and other bills which were paid by the Nazi interests.

Moreover, today's broadcast (transmitted via National Public Radio)
even stated that the Germans maintained his French residence during
the War and gave him a paid position in their "English Speaking Unit"
stationed in France.

At the time, there was a British postwar call for a treason trial,
but Mr. Wodehouse "somehow" moved rapidly to the United States and
eventually became a citizen here.  Just before he died in 1975, the
author was knighted - no less!

If you are a "Show Boat" fan, or particularly enjoy the haunting ballad
'Bill', you might wish to check out the following URL which has
appeared on the Web, concerning the apparent dual sides of writer
Wodehouse:  "PG Wodehouse could have been traitor"

  http://www.itn.co.uk:80/Britain/brit19990917/091701.htm

Another URL is called: "Dash it all, Jeeves ... PG Wodehouse was
a Spy!"

Undoubtedly there will be more Web texts on this subject, especially
from abroad, where the allegations and details are being published.

Meanwhile -- Nazi or not -- I still enjoy 'Bill', be it rendered on
a 78 rpm disc by Helen Morgan or our VHS (from PBS) tape of the Paper
Mill Playhouse production in Millburn, NJ, with a stellar modern
ensemble.  [If you have seen this television revival of "Show Boat"
it's 100% perfect: in cast, in singing and every performance detail.
Eddie Bracken played Captain Andy to perfection.]

As for "Jeeves" which never interested me: "dash it!" - I say!

Regards from Maine
Douglas Henderson
Artcraft Music Rolls
http://www.wiscasset.net/artcraft/