Review: GYPSY Is Still The Greatest!

The grandest of all of America's grand outdoor theaters has opened Gypsy. In its one hundredth season The Muny in St. Louis brings us one of their very finest productions. It's certainly one of the best musical theater offerings I've ever seen.

It was a gloriously merciful summer evening in St. Louis--temperatures in the soft seventies--cloudless, sweet and pleasant. Just right for a visit to The Muny in beautiful Forest Park.

Gypsy, the hit 1959 show with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by a young Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, has been called by many the perfect musical. It tells the story of the curious advent of Gypsy Rose Lee as not only a stripper, but as a beloved and respected national celebrity. But no, no. The show is not really about that refined ecdysiast; the show is about her domineering, demanding, driving, obsessive, overwhelming mother Rose. Rose is the Godzilla of stage mothers. She's a monster. But we love her.

The entire show at The Muny is of superb quality top to bottom. From the moment that Maestro James Moore lifts his baton and takes that first graceful, athletic, articulate sweep to bring brilliant life to the large live orchestra you know you're in for something very special. The marvelous music sweeps you along with terrific show tunes like "Let Me Entertain You," "Some People," "Small World", "Together, Wherever We Go". There are novelties like "Mr. Goldstone". There's the hilarious spoof sung by three strippers when they advise young Louise that in order to succeed in their business "You Gotta Get a Gimmick". There are romantic songs of young love--and old love. There's that show-stopper "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

Maestro Moore keeps everything roaring along briskly; we're vaulted from one melodic or comic high point right into the next. It's exhilarating!

We meet Momma Rose and her daughters, Louise (maybe 10) and "Baby June" (8 or so) as they audition for Uncle Jocko's kiddie talent show. June, an extroverted little precious golden girl, is the star of her mother's heart. Shy Louise is merely an extra there. Rose puts together a song-and-dance act with other little kids (kidnapped? interns?) and drags them around the country and around the calendar desperately trying to make a hit in vaudeville. But the cute kids inconveniently age. Broadway never beckons. They play in crummier and crummier venues. Until . . .

Ah, but you have to see it.

Beth Leavel plays Rose--and she is simply astonishing! What energy, what drive, what passion. She's beautifully supported by Adam Heller who plays her immensely patient boy-friend/agent Herbie. (Heller and Miss Leavel are in real life a couple. Ahhh.)

You'll want to steal darling Amelie Lock, who plays "Baby" June. And what a dancer! And what an adorable squeal she emits each time she does that very high kick. "Dainty" June (the teen-ager) is played by Hayley Podschun, and she has every bit of that same bright energy.

Elise Edwards plays little Louise and makes her the one we love most on stage. Patient, sincere, loving her mother despite her neglect. She has the loveliest touch of physical gawkiness.

Julia Knitel is Louise grown up. She has such strength, such focus. And she beautifully becomes that svelte, sophisticated woman that the world embraces as "Miss Gypsy Rose Lee!"

Fine work is done in supporting roles by Lara Teeter, Kip Niven, Michael James Reed. Gold stars and lots of congratulatory glitter to the three comic exotics, Jennifer Cody, Ellen Harvey, and Ann Harada.

Dancing just floods the stage and The Muny Kids have never been better. Choreographer Ralph Perkins does terrific work.

One especially fine dancer is Drew Redington, who plays Tulsa, a member of Rose's teen-age group. He confides in Louise that he's working up an act so he can go off on his own. Redington dances divinely. He's Gene Kelly in the flesh--but with a much better voice.

Director Rob Ruggiero adds another big, big star to his record of triumphs at The Muny.

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