Gypsy

Following its professional revival last year, Gypsy is being taken up by amateur societies once again, which is good news.  The show has a storing storyline, memorable songs and the opportunity for some colourful costumes.   Little Theatre Company took full advantage of all that and Director Darren Harper has produced a spectacular and entertaining show.

Set against the background of the depression and the dire straits of vaudeville at that time, the show charts the efforts of a Theatre Mother to push her own ambitions onto her daughters.   The results are mixed as she gradually gets drawn to the seedier side of show business and allows her ambitions to overrule her judgement.

Stephanie Wilson, In the lead role of Mama Rose, was simply superb.  Steph is a seasoned actor who will always produce an impressive performance and she was a joy to watch.  You didn’t like Mama Rose for her approach to the business, but you couldn’t help admiring her single mindedness in getting what she thought was right for ‘her babies’.  Steph has a wealth of performing experience and this was another of her many successes.

Newcomer (to LTC) Alice Fillery played Louise beautifully.  Her coltish awkwardness blossoming into the beautiful performer, Gypsy Rose Lee, that she eventually became.  Alice has a strong training in theatre and this became evident as the show progressed.  I look forward to seeing more of her in the future.

Ian Benson played Herbie, the constant support for the family.  He brought a sensitivity to the part that was very important, and we really felt for his despair when Rose refused to reconsider her path in life.  Eleanor Softly played June, the main focus of Mama Rose’s ambitions, a great characterisation.  The four boys in the troupe were all good strong characters and Chris Higginson (Tulsa) showed his dance back ground to perfection.

A special mention for the three strippers; this section of the show is the one that I love most and the three ladies, Laura Harper (Tessie Tura) Leanne Larthe (Electra) and Sarah Pettican ((Mazeppa) were just brilliant.  A great opportunity for three excellent performers to give their all, and they did just that.  The audience loved it!   The remaining members of this quite small cast were all excellent and the whole show was a joy to watch.  The children, an integral part of the story, were all good.  As always, I can only comment on the team that I saw but I am sure that the other team were equally as good.

I know that one scene change is quite long to give the cast time to change but there were quite a few long waits between other scenes which did tend to slow the pace of the show.  However, it soon picked up again once the performers were back on stage.  The scenery was simple but effective and the costumes were all, absolutely, right for the show.  Lighting was good but there were quite a few late pickups for the mics. Making us miss the first line of quite a lot of the dialogue, especially when the character was entering as they spoke.  This was the first performance, so I hope it got slicker as the week went on.

The band, under the direction of MD Clare Penfold was great, a strong raunchy sound that befitted the storyline.  The show had little to criticise and much to compliment, well done LTC and thank you for your hospitality during the interval.

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