The Muny’s doing Gypsy this week, a show that’s been around so long that some folks don’t remember just how good it is. The script, based loosely on a memoir by Gypsy Rose Lee, a rather elegant (and relatively restrained) burlesque dancer of great fame, and written by Arthur Laurents, gives actors some serious stuff to dig into. Jule Stein wrote the music, and Stephen Sondheim, after some persuasion by Oscar Hammerstein, wrote the lyrics. Yes, Sondheim. Who can doubt it with rhymes like “You can sacrifice your sacro, working in the back row,” from the deliciously bawdy “You Gotta Have a Gimmick”, sung by three strippers (shown below) to the rookie who’s about to attempt it for the first time?
Mamma Rose, the ultimate show biz mother, is at the heart of the story. Beth Leavel (below) turns in a fine performance moving from driven to obsessed and then, eventually, beyond that. It’s a beautifully nuanced piece of work from her. Her daughters, June and Louise, are dancing and singing in vaudeville as children; kudos to Amelie Lock and Elise Edwards, respectively, who portray the sisters during their childhood.
For the remainder of the show, June, who the world came to know as actress June Havoc, is Hayley Podschun (below), the fair-haired child of her mother because she’s their headliner, more talented than her sister. Louise, Julia Kneitel, is the older by a couple of years – neither of the girls is sure of their age, since Mom has fibbed about it so often, adding years because of child labor laws, subtracting them when dealing with theater owners because little kiddies might be a bigger draw. Louise isn’t as cute, not as graceful, not as good a singer, and is always June’s supporting cast. (At least Rose doesn’t relegate Louise to being either the front or the back end of the cow she decides should be a part of the act. Faint consolation, I suppose.)
Rose finally manages to snag an agent. Herbie’s a candy salesman who used to be an agent, but Rose draws him in. He’s played by Adam Heller – who, probably not coincidentally, is the boyfriend of Beth Leavel. Heller is a delight, warm and funny and charming, with a singing voice like butterscotch. Herbie’s a stalwart guy, pretty patient with Rose’s obsessive focus on making June a star.
June escapes and Rose’s focus turns to Louise, but vaudeville is waning as motion pictures are becoming more popular. The act, scraping the bottom, finds themselves booked into a burlesque house when the headliner is arrested. Mamma Rose volunteers Louise to take her place, and the transformation begins – aided by the experienced strippers – both in Louise, who becomes Gypsy Rose Lee that night, and in the balance of power. And Kneitel (shown below) steps into Gypsy’s (and Gypsy’s) power with immense grace.
As with many of the older shows that have had several revivals, there are different versions. This one is not nearly so bleak as some, but that doesn’t lessen the impact. Director Rob Ruggiero has done a fine job in putting this remarkable show together. It’s great to see it again.
The only misstep is the persistent problem this year of mics not coming on as performers start to speak for the first time or after a prolonged period of silence. It’s corrected in a few syllables, but it’s slightly jarring to the listener, especially considering the smoothness of most everything else.
A great chance to see a fine version of one of the greatest classic American musicals. And how can one resist a chance to hear that fine anthem, “Have an Egg Roll, Mr. Goldstone” (shown below)?
Gypsy
through August 2
The Muny
Forest Park
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