 |
| Ray D’Ambrosio is Herbie, Whitney Hisako Moore is Louise and Caitlin Gjerdrum is Mama Rose. (Scott Lasky photo) |
Palo Alto players has opened its 95th
season with a splendid production of a musical theater classic, “Gypsy.”
With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents, this 66-year-old masterpiece
was inspired by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee.
Its central character is Mama Rose, the
stage mother from hell, who pushed and manipulated her daughters, Louise and
June, toward what she hoped would be vaudeville success. In the process, she
strained her finances and kept the girls out of school.
Although June showed more promise, she
escaped her mother’s clutches by eloping with one of the boys in their act. She
became actor June Havoc.
Rose then focused on the reluctant Louise,
who eventually blossomed into Gypsy Rose Lee.
Director Janie Scott has assembled a 29-member
cast ranging from kids to adults, each creating a believable character.
As Mama Rose, Caitlin Gjerdrum embodies
the character’s fierce determination, apparently undaunted by one setback after
another. She’s also a terrific singer who belts out such songs as “Everything’s
Coming up Roses” and her finale, “Rose’s Turn.”
Portraying her daughters as young girls
are Caitlin Segal as June and Phoebe Wagner as Louise. Segal’s June is featured
in “Let Me Entertain You,” singing, dancing and, in another sequence, baton
twirling, while Wagner’s Louise is clearly uncomfortable. She knows that she
doesn’t have Louise’s talent.
However, they both sing well.
Their adult characters are played by
Samantha Borthwick as June and Whitney Hisako Moore as Louise, both of whom are
talented.
Another noteworthy performance comes from Ray
D’Ambrosio as the longsuffering Herbie, who becomes the girls’ manager and
falls in love with Rose. He hopes to marry her, but she keeps putting him off.
The three burlesque strippers add comic touches
thanks to Kristina Nakagawa as Tessie Tura, Chloe Angst as the horn-tooting
Mazeppa and Barbara Heninger as a decrepit Electra in “You Gotta Get a
Gimmick.”
Scott’s direction is enhanced by
choreography by Michael Saenz, especially his routine for Tulsa (Ralph
Shehayed) in “All I Need Is the Girl.”
Kudos to music and vocal director Amanda
Ku, who conducts from the orchestra pit.
Costumes by Jenny Garcia help to define
the characters, as do the hair, wigs and makeup by Nicole Hoke.
Scenic design by Kevin Davies establishes
each scene yet is flexible enough for quick changes. The sound is by Chris Beer,
the lighting by Noah Price.
The Sept. 7 matinee featured two ASL
interpreters seated house left who made the show accessible to the hearing
impaired.
Theatergoers also saw some construction
equipment and fencing around Lucie Stern Center, which is undergoing roof
repairs.
Running about three hours with one
intermission, this thoroughly entertaining production of “Gypsy” will continue
through Sept. 21 in the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
For tickets and information, call (650)
329-0891 or visit www.paplayers.org.
