Review: GYPSY at Cape Cod Theatre Company

This is the story-set-to music of that sophisticated star of the burlesque circuit (and eventually the New York stage), Gypsy Rose Lee. (The book is by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee) It begins back in the days of vaudeville when Baby Louise (Ashauri Martin) is being carted around the outer fringes of the vaudeville circuit by Mama Rose (Heidi Crawley Cloutier), along with sister Baby June (Lylah Crawley) and a troupe of also-rans. In those days, Baby June is the star, with Louise around just to support the tumbling cartwheeling little songstress. At this point, "Baby June and the Newsboys" (with Louise just one of the guys) have just one song in their act "May We Entertain You."

The ultimate stage mother, Rose has big plans for her extroverted child star and her supporting cast. When she meets former agent Herbie (Warren Harrington) she uses her feminine wiles to convince him to become the troupe's manager, charming him with the dulcet tones of "Small World." He manages to get them booked on the coveted Orpheum circuit, with the act now billed as "Dainty June and the Farmboys."

But all of this is about to change. The girls are growing up (as children have an unnerving way of doing) and Mama Rose is losing her iron-clad control of her band of players. (At this point June is being played by Ahnika Graham and the adolescent Louise is portrayed by Maryana Crawley.) When June is offered a place at a performing arts school, Rose turns it down, unwilling to break up the act. The troupe continues its harrowing tour of the stages on the circuit, with Louise dreaming that she could one day perform with the hoofer par excellence Tulsa (LeVane Harrington). She sees herself as his partner as he performs a flawless soft-shoe to the tune of "All I Need is the Girl." As it turns out, however, the girl he needs is June, with the two eloping and Mama Rose finally turning her attention to Louise.

The new act makes its way to the burlesque circuit, where the suddenly sophisticated Louise (glittering in silver lame) steps onstage to replace a missing stripper, where she sings "Let Me Entertain You." And the rest, as they say is history, as Gypsy Rose Lee is born.

All About the Music

Of course this show is all about the music. It's one of those opportunities to sing along with songs we all know by-heart, including "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Let Me Entertain You," "Together (Wherever We Go)," "Small World," and "All I Need is the Girl." (Musical director is Kevin Quill, with Kelly Taylor Brown associate musical director. The four-piece band features Brown, along with Miranda Simonne, Kyle Wells and Evan Eldredge.) The strongest vocalists are Maryana Crawley, and LeVane Harrington, whose perfectly tuned voices carry throughout the theater.

Crawley Cloutier is full of life as Mama Rose, a powerful presence onstage. The action seems to rotate around her virtually until the end, when Louise becomes the beautiful butterfly Gypsy Rose Lee.

And, speaking of butterflies, one of the highlights of the show is the song "You Gotta Get a Gimmick," performed by Nicole Shaw as a stripper in butterfly garb, Jessica Whorf as a trumpet-playing stripper and Carryl Lynn as Electra, whose costume lights up in strategic spots. The number is lively and great fun.

As you may have noted by the names of the cast members, this is a family production, with the Crawleys represented by Heidi, Maryana, Lylah, Lori Crawley as Grandma and ensemble member Isabella Crawley. And the Harringtons are represented by Warren and Levane. The multi-generational nature of shows is one of the joys of community theater on Cape Cod.

A Chance to Sing Along

Go for the chance to sing along with the old standards and enjoy the classic "star is born" story. And remember, critics have often called "Gypsy" the greatest American musical.

If you go: 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Sundays 3 p.m. through May 14. Cape Cod Theatre Company, 10 Division St., West Harwich, 508-432-2002, www.capecodtheatrecompany.org, tickets: $35 adults, $18 youth.

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