The story of one of American’s most notorious performers is the focus of this Sondheim-scripted musical.
Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, it features her early life and the relationship with her sister June and mother Rose – whose pushy approach propelled both into the spotlight, seemingly whether they wanted it or not.
This production by Sound Ideas Theatre Company is centred on two great performances. Nina Taylor is enviably flexible as Lee, showing tenderness and emotion as her teenage incarnation and confidently switching to a coquettish burlesque performer in the final scenes. Little Lamb is a simple song, but she delivers it beautifully, as well as showing comic skills in Together Wherever We Go.
The night belongs to Holly Graham as mother Rose though. She powers the show from start to finish as the obsessive and somewhat objectionable pushy mom, determined to make her daughters stars. The neurotically triumphant finale, Rose’s Turn, is breath-taking, with Graham filling the stage solo.
There also delightful cameos from Anna Goode, Hannah Valentine, and Rebecca Wells as three jaded burlesque performers, with their over-the-top rendition of You Gotta Get A Gimmick.
The sequence of Gimmick closely following Together did however highlight that Dan Smith’s direction doesn’t quite know how to play the show. Is it an almost slapstick comedy, or a dark and serious piece? Is Rose’s obsessive behaviour merely manic or menacing? While Arthur Laurents’ book doesn’t help, we get a first act that feels over-long and earnest followed by a more played-for-laughs, quick fire second act.
The production design is similarly conflicted: there are some clever touches but the central revolving stage adds little, and we have a pretty bare stage for much of the show that at times leaves the actors looking lost. While the Playhouse lacks options here, lighting could have created more atmosphere throughout – as it did for Louise’s solo. Strobe effects for a neat, if slightly blinding, transition between the the young and old casts and a photoshoot show the team are capable of inventive solutions, but that attention to detail seemed unevenly spread.
There was consistency from Acer Smith’s 16-piece orchestra, positioned up above the stage, adding the luxurious of live music that is increasingly rare to find.
- Gypsy continues at Norwich Theatre Playhouse until Sunday 14 September. Tickets £25.
