This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Heralded as one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time, Gypsy, which closes out Longmont Theatre Company’s 2017-18 season, made its way to Longmont, bringing an inside look into showbiz and providing comedic, burlesque entertainment.
Gypsy, whose script is loosely based on the famous burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, is the story about the evolution and journey of a family tied to show business as they make their way from stage to stage across the country and across their lives.
As the show starts and the red silky curtains pull back, we are quickly introduced to Rose, a quintessential show business mother, who will do whatever it takes to make her two daughters, June and Louise, famous. As they grow older and develop into women, Rose still pushes her daughters to remain in their “younger” roles.
Striving for fame and recognition, Rose does not seem to be able to move past the show she created for her younger daughters, which stifles their progress in show business and also causes family rifts.
Louise, who typically remains in the background, is pushed by her mother into a different kind of act which is far from the days of Baby June. Louise yearns for a normal life with a house, a family, and an education but she cannot escape her mother’s grasp nor her mother’s dreams for her daughters.
Directed by Theresa Collins, the near 40-person cast features Melissa Fike as Rose, M. Shane Grant as Herbie, Alex White as June, and Emily Gerhard as Louise.
Fike powerfully demonstrates Rose’s intense love, devotion, and jealousy as she lives vicariously through her daughters; Grant lends his fatherly-support and confidence to the female cast as Rose’s business and romance partner; White portrays the more talented younger sister with fervor and passion; and finally, there is Gerhard who captures the transformation of Louise into the tantalizing burlesque entertainer perfectly.
There’s plenty of child actors and emerging young talent too, especially Emma Hecht (Baby June) and Alexandra Foster (Baby Louise) as they do a phenomenal job setting the stage for their adult counterparts.
The costume work by Judy Ernst is splendid, and although there are frequent costume changes for many characters throughout the performance, it accurately portrays life in show business. The audience is able to really enjoy the costumes from children in the variety show to the burlesque dancers. And as we see Louis transform, her outfits go from simple and modest to sultry and provocative as she finally becomes Gypsy Rose Lee.
Whether it's showing the progression of the characters through time with the use of strobe lights (very cool effect) or having the entire stage light up with Rose’s name across the stage as she sings her final solo, the lighting, done by Matthew Deets, is skillfully used throughout the performance.
The set is well done and fully takes advantage of Longmont Theatre’s stage, including their new movie screen. There’s even a ramp that was built in the front of the stage that goes out into the audience, giving the actors the opportunity to engage with the audience in a more personal way.
The 9-part orchestra alongside the choreography, done by Helen Taylor, is also simply a joy to watch. Songs such as “Baby June and Her Newsboys” and “Let Me Entertain You” are captivating and entertaining; and “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”, performed by Julia Jacober (Tessie Tura), Susan V. Walters (Mazeppa), and Dana Plunkett (Electra), is unparalleled.
At approximately two hours and thirty minutes (including intermission), Gypsy is a marvel to experience and the Longmont Theatre Company and the superb cast does an extraordinary job bringing to life the Broadway hit in a local and intimate setting. There’s a line in the second-to-last song, sung by Louise, that says: “My mother, who got me into this business, always told me make them beg for more and then...don't give it to them, but I'm not my mother! So if you beg for more, I'll give it to ya.”
And as the curtain closes, you’ll be left begging for more.
Gypsy will show on May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 at 7:30 pm and May 6, 7 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available online at longmonttheatre.org or by calling 303-772-5200.
Ellen Anderson also contributed to this article.
