Two really good and able men actually showed up for a full evening’s work. Bass baritone Phillip Boykin was easily the most formidable Crown that I’ve seen in live performance, with biceps that clearly warrant Bess’s “look what arms you got” exclamations, and he put the most profane raunch into “A Red-Headed Woman” that I’ve heard.

Goodness and Evil were portrayed magnificently by Patrick Blackwell as “Porgy”, and Phillip Boykin as “Crown”. While wondering why these two men weren’t performing with the Met, they were clearly the cornerstone of quality to this production. Not only in voice but in acting skill, these two formidable foes were so convincing that during the curtain call “Crown” was loudly booed by the audience. Evidence that he had done his job well, Phillip Boykin broke into a broad grin.

Phillip Boykin was a menacing Crown.

and the vicious personality of the murderer Crown, a very convincing Phillip Boykin, is revealed. Boykin, a native of Greenville, SC, is perhaps the most powerful character in this production, and has an impressive bass-baritone to match. He�s scary and bold, and eventually the audience sends up a collective groan whenever he appears.

As the other Bad Guy, Crown, Phillip Boykin came across as both masculine and appropriately possessive.