Editing Paul Robeson (section)

===1928–1932: ''Show Boat'', ''Othello'', and marriage difficulties===
In 1928, Robeson played "Joe" in the London production of the American musical ''[[Show Boat]]'', at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Drury Lane Theatre: 'Showboat'|date=May 4, 1928|newspaper=[[The Times]]|page=14|quote=Mr. Robeson's melancholy song about the 'old river' is one of the two chief hits of the evening.}}; {{cite web|title=Show Boat |publisher=theatrecrafts.com |url=https://www.theatrecrafts.com/pages/home/shows/showboat/}}; {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=113–115}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=188–192}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=149–156}}</ref> His rendition of "[[Ol' Man River]]" became the benchmark for all future performers of the song.{{sfn|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=192}} Some black critics objected to the play due to its usage of the then-common racial epithet "[[nigger]]".<ref>{{cite news|first=J A|last=Rogers|title='Show Boat' Pleasure-Disappointment": Rogers Gives New View Says Race Talent Is Submerged|date=October 6, 1928|work=Pittsburgh Courier|page=A2|quote=[Show Boat] is, so far as the Negro is concerned, a regrettable bit of American niggerism introduced into Europe.|id={{ProQuest|201884274}}}}; {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=114|registration=yes}}, {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=52}}.</ref> It was, nonetheless, immensely popular with white audiences.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mrs. Paul Robeson Majestic Passenger: Coming to Settle Business Affairs of Her Distinguished Husband|date=August 22, 1928 |newspaper=[[New York Amsterdam News]]|page=8|id={{ProQuest|226257877}} }}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=193–197}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=114}}, {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=52}}.</ref> He was summoned for a [[Royal Command Performance]] at [[Buckingham Palace]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Sings For Prince Of Wales|date=July 28, 1928|work=Pittsburgh Courier |page=12|id={{ProQuest|201895989}}}}; {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=115}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=196}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=153}}.</ref> and Robeson was befriended by [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] from the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]].<ref>{{cite news|title=English Parliament Honors Paul Robeson|date=December 1, 1928|work=Chicago Defender |page=A1|id={{ProQuest|492188338}}}}; cf. {{harvnb|Seton|1958|p=30}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=155}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=?}}</ref> ''Show Boat'' continued for 350 performances and, as of 2001, it remained the Royal's most profitable venture.{{sfn|Boyle|Bunie|2005|p=192}} The Robesons bought a home in [[Hampstead]].<ref>{{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=205–07}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=153–156}}, {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=52}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=118}}.</ref> He reflected on his life in his diary and wrote that it was all part of a "higher plan" and "God watches over me and guides me. He's with me and lets me fight my own battles and hopes I'll win."{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=126–127}} However, an incident at the [[Savoy Hotel#Restaurants|Savoy Grill]], in which he was refused seating, caused him to issue a press release describing the insult which subsequently became a matter of public debate.{{sfn|Duberman|1989|pp=123–124}}

Essie had learned early in their marriage that Robeson had extramarital affairs, but she tolerated them.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Writing Robeson|magazine=[[The Nation]]|date=December 28, 1988|first=Martin|last=Duberman|volume=267|issue=22|pages=33–38}}; cf. {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=57}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=159–160}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=100–101}}</ref> However, when she discovered that he was having another affair, she unfavorably altered the characterization of him in his biography,{{sfn|Robeson|2001|pp=163–165}} and defamed him by describing him with "negative racial stereotypes".<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=172–173}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=230–234}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=139–140}}</ref> Despite her uncovering of this tryst, there was no public evidence that their relationship had soured.<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=143–144}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=165–166}}</ref>

The couple appeared in the experimental Swiss film ''[[Borderline (1930 film)|Borderline]]'' (1930).<ref>{{harvnb|Nollen|2010|p=24}}; cf. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=129–130}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=221–23}}</ref> He then returned to the [[Savoy Theatre]], in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] to play ''Othello'', opposite [[Peggy Ashcroft]] as [[Desdemona]].<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=133–138}}; cf. {{harvnb|Nollen|2010|pp=59–60}}</ref> He cited the lack of a "racial problem" in London as significant in his decision to move to London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Robeson Quits America for London |agency=Associated Press |publisher=San Bernardino Sun |date=May 14, 1931 |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19310514.1.1&srpos=16&e=------193-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Michael+Maloney----1931--- |access-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021190803/https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19310514.1.1&srpos=16&e=------193-en--20--1--txt-txIN-Michael+Maloney----1931--- |url-status=live }}</ref> Robeson was the first black actor to play [[Othello (character)|Othello]] in Britain since [[Ira Aldridge]].<ref>{{harvnb|Morrison|2011|p=114}}; cf. {{harvnb|Swindall|2010|p=23}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=166}}</ref> The production received mixed reviews which noted Robeson's "highly civilized quality [but lacking the] grand style".<ref>{{harvnb|Nollen|2010|p=29}}; cf. {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|p=60}}, {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=226–229}}</ref> Robeson stated the best way to diminish the oppression African Americans faced was for his artistic work to be an example of what "men of my colour" could accomplish rather than to "be a propagandist and make speeches and write articles about what they call the Colour Question."<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=176–77}}; cf. {{harvnb|Nollen|2010|p=29}}</ref>

After Essie discovered Robeson had been having an affair with Ashcroft, she decided to seek a divorce and they split up.<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=178–182}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=238–240, 257}}; cf. {{harvnb|Gilliam|1978|pp=62–64}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=140–144}}</ref> While working in London, Robeson became one of the first artists to record at the new EMI Recording Studios (later known as [[Abbey Road Studios]]), recording four songs in September 1931, almost two months before the studio was officially opened.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Genius of Paul Robeson {{!}} As Told by Cameron Colbeck |url=http://www.abbeyroad.com/news/the-genius-of-paul-robeson-as-told-by-abbey-roads-cameron-colbeck-2938 |access-date=August 27, 2022 |website=Abbey Road |language=en-GB |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008024905/https://www.abbeyroad.com/news/the-genius-of-paul-robeson-as-told-by-abbey-roads-cameron-colbeck-2938 |url-status=live }}</ref> Robeson returned to Broadway as Joe in the 1932 revival of ''Show Boat'', with [[Maude Simmons]] and others, to critical and popular acclaim.<ref>{{cite news|first=Annie|last=Oakley|title=The Theatre and Its People|date=May 24, 1932|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=695EAAAAIBAJ&dq=robeson&pg=4621%2C562518|work=[[Windsor Star|Border Cities Star]]|page=4|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728044549/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=695EAAAAIBAJ&dq=robeson&pg=4621%2C562518|url-status=live}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=253–254}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=161}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=192–193}}</ref> He received, with immense pride, an honorary master's degree from Rutgers.<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=161}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=258–259}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=132, 194}}</ref> It is said that Foster Sanford, his college football coach advised him that divorcing Essie and marrying Ashcroft would do irreparable damage to his reputation.<ref>Sources are unclear on this point. {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=145}}; cf. {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|p=182}}</ref> In any case, Ashcroft and Robeson's relationship ended in 1932,<ref>{{harvnb|Duberman|1989|pp=162–163}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=262–263}}, {{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=194–196}}</ref> and Robeson and Essie reconciled, leaving their relationship scarred permanently.<ref>{{harvnb|Robeson|2001|pp=195–200}}; cf. {{harvnb|Boyle|Bunie|2005|pp=267–268}}, {{harvnb|Duberman|1989|p=166}}</ref>