Gypsy
Little Theatre Company
8-11 November 2017
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
Little Theatre Company
8-11 November 2017
Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
Gypsy has always been one of my favourite musicals, from the watching the 1962 film version starring Natalie Wood as Louise, to seeing the phenomenal Imelda Staunton powerhouse her way through the role of Momma Rose at the Savoy Theatre in the West End. It's a show that has everything a musical can ever wish for - a great true life story, a fabulous score and characters in which you can completely invest in.
Billed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, Gypsy is based on the true life memoirs of legendary burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and celebrates both sides of the sparkling, yet shadowy world of show business.
Filled with some great songs such as Let Me Entertain You, Some People, Everything's Coming Up Roses, You Gotta Get A Gimmic and Rose's Turn, it tells the tale of Momma Rose and her two daughters, Baby June and Louise, trekking across America in their family vaudeville act. But times are changing, audiences are expecting more, and the two girls have their own ambitions in mind. When June marries and leaves, Rose turns her hopes and attentions to her elder, less obviously talented, daughter Louise. The rise of burlesque is upon them and nothing will ever be the same again for Momma Rose.
Little Theatre Company have done well to grab the opportunity to put on Gypsy here in Southend, following its sell-out, Olivier Award-winning production at the Savoy Theatre and it is clear that director, Darren Harper, has made every effort to make this production as close to West End standard as is possible with the resources amateur theatre has available. He obviously has a great team behind him and most importantly, a very impressive cast.
Children in shows can often be a little, shall we say 'overly stagey' but for Gypsy this is exactly what is needed and all the children performing at the Thursday matinee performance, which I attended, were wonderfully professional and in particular, Scarlett Cecil who plays Baby June to perfection - a credit to the Sandra Singer Stage School they all attend. Also, just to blow off the 'never work with children or animals' adage, just as at home on the stage was Crunchie Hayward - milking the cute factor for all his little doggie worth - as Chowsie, Momma Rose's pet dog.
June and Louise, of course, cannot stay children for ever, despite Momma Rose's efforts to keep them performing as such and we are introduced to the older Baby June played nicely by Eleanor Softly and complacent, tom-boy, Louise, who never seems to be able to win her mother's affections in the way that the more talented June does.
Louise is beautifully played by Little Theatre Company newcomer, Alice Fillary, who immediately endears with her first song, Little Lamb and continues to pull at the audience's heart strings throughout with a captivating performance. (Does she remind anyone else of pop star Bjork or is it just me?)
The hugely demanding role of Momma Rose is one which is pivotal to the production and demands the actress playing her to really reach inside herself in order to produce a truly emotive performance. LTC stalwart, Stephanie Wilson, does this with aplomb and hits every note perfectly. She is matched well in Ian Benson's performance as theatrical agent, Herbie, who loves Rose but can never really pull her away from her dreams and tireless ambitions for June and Louise.
Almost upstaging the whole show are Laura Harper, Lianne Larthe and Sarah Pettican as burlesque strippers, Tessie, Electra and Mazeppa and who, in my opinion, did a far better job of their Gotta Have A Gimmic number than the West End production managed to do.
There are some tricky scene changes in this show but these were done smoothly; and from a technical viewpoint, the sound and lighting were excellent.
MD, Clare Penfold, did a great job with the orchestra, especially those trumpets and trombones - and there was some lovely choreography from Laura Witherall, in particular with Chris Higginson as Tulsa - all long legs and cheekbones - clearly utilising his singing, ballet, tap, modern and contemporary musical theatre training in his All I Need is the Girl number.
The night, however, really goes to Stephanie Wilson and Alice Fillary as Rose and Louise. They both give really powerful and believable performances which no doubt will become even stronger as the run progresses.
Everything really is coming up Roses for LTC - don't miss this theatrical treat!
For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Billed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, Gypsy is based on the true life memoirs of legendary burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and celebrates both sides of the sparkling, yet shadowy world of show business.
Filled with some great songs such as Let Me Entertain You, Some People, Everything's Coming Up Roses, You Gotta Get A Gimmic and Rose's Turn, it tells the tale of Momma Rose and her two daughters, Baby June and Louise, trekking across America in their family vaudeville act. But times are changing, audiences are expecting more, and the two girls have their own ambitions in mind. When June marries and leaves, Rose turns her hopes and attentions to her elder, less obviously talented, daughter Louise. The rise of burlesque is upon them and nothing will ever be the same again for Momma Rose.
Little Theatre Company have done well to grab the opportunity to put on Gypsy here in Southend, following its sell-out, Olivier Award-winning production at the Savoy Theatre and it is clear that director, Darren Harper, has made every effort to make this production as close to West End standard as is possible with the resources amateur theatre has available. He obviously has a great team behind him and most importantly, a very impressive cast.
Children in shows can often be a little, shall we say 'overly stagey' but for Gypsy this is exactly what is needed and all the children performing at the Thursday matinee performance, which I attended, were wonderfully professional and in particular, Scarlett Cecil who plays Baby June to perfection - a credit to the Sandra Singer Stage School they all attend. Also, just to blow off the 'never work with children or animals' adage, just as at home on the stage was Crunchie Hayward - milking the cute factor for all his little doggie worth - as Chowsie, Momma Rose's pet dog.
June and Louise, of course, cannot stay children for ever, despite Momma Rose's efforts to keep them performing as such and we are introduced to the older Baby June played nicely by Eleanor Softly and complacent, tom-boy, Louise, who never seems to be able to win her mother's affections in the way that the more talented June does.
Louise is beautifully played by Little Theatre Company newcomer, Alice Fillary, who immediately endears with her first song, Little Lamb and continues to pull at the audience's heart strings throughout with a captivating performance. (Does she remind anyone else of pop star Bjork or is it just me?)
The hugely demanding role of Momma Rose is one which is pivotal to the production and demands the actress playing her to really reach inside herself in order to produce a truly emotive performance. LTC stalwart, Stephanie Wilson, does this with aplomb and hits every note perfectly. She is matched well in Ian Benson's performance as theatrical agent, Herbie, who loves Rose but can never really pull her away from her dreams and tireless ambitions for June and Louise.
Almost upstaging the whole show are Laura Harper, Lianne Larthe and Sarah Pettican as burlesque strippers, Tessie, Electra and Mazeppa and who, in my opinion, did a far better job of their Gotta Have A Gimmic number than the West End production managed to do.
There are some tricky scene changes in this show but these were done smoothly; and from a technical viewpoint, the sound and lighting were excellent.
MD, Clare Penfold, did a great job with the orchestra, especially those trumpets and trombones - and there was some lovely choreography from Laura Witherall, in particular with Chris Higginson as Tulsa - all long legs and cheekbones - clearly utilising his singing, ballet, tap, modern and contemporary musical theatre training in his All I Need is the Girl number.
The night, however, really goes to Stephanie Wilson and Alice Fillary as Rose and Louise. They both give really powerful and believable performances which no doubt will become even stronger as the run progresses.
Everything really is coming up Roses for LTC - don't miss this theatrical treat!
For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Ask the Audience
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Beryl Hosker, 76, Stanford-le-Hope
"I enjoyed it very much. I thought the leading lady was excellent and the girl playing Louise was such a good actress - I thought she was really lovely. I liked the changeover with the children - that was really amazing to watch. I've never seen the film or the show before and I thought it was wonderful. I've had a really good time." |
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