By George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin
A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO THE OPERA LOOK-IN
Synopsis Selected Characters from Porgy and Bess
Porgy- a disabled
e) beggar (bass-bariton
Act I – Catfish Row, South Carolina, 1950s It is evening in Catfish Row, an African-American crowded, waterfront section of town in Charleston, South Carolina. Jasbo Brown is playing the blues on the piano as people dance. Clara sings a lullaby (“Summertime”) to her baby while streetwise Sportin’ Life, Clara’s husband Jake, Mingo, Robbins, and some of the other men are gambling. Porgy, who is disabled, enters. The game gets heated as tensions rise between losers and winners. The big bully, Crown, kills Robbins, leaving his girlfriend, Bess, behind. Sportin’ Life then asks Bess to go to New York with him, but she refuses. Helpless, Bess looks for a safe place to hide, but the religious women of Catfish Row close their doors to her. Only Porgy will give her shelter when the police arrive. The community raises money for Robbins’ funeral. Local resident Peter is arrested for killing Robbins. The undertaker consoles Robbins’ wife, Serena, by promising to give Robbins a decent burial. Act II – Catfish Row, one month later
Bess- Crown’s girlfriend (soprano)
fe Clara- Jake’s wi o) (sopran
Jake and the fisherman get ready to take Jake’s boat out. Clara begs her husband not to go. Porgy leans out his window singing “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’.” As the rest of Catfish Row gets ready for a picnic on Kittiwah Island, Sportin’ Life again tries to tempt Bess to go with him to New York. She refuses. Porgy warns him to stay away from Bess. Sportin’ Life leaves. Porgy sings “Bess, You Is My Woman.” Everyone is excited about the picnic. Porgy and Maria encourage Bess to go to the picnic. Unable to make the trip,
eper Maria- a shopke (contralto)
Sportin’ Life- the neighborhood hustler (tenor)
h nor) Row resident (te
Mingo- a Catfis