"May we entertain you?" -- Indeed you do in a sparkling production of Gypsy at the Pike Road Theatre Company, directed and choreographed with an infectious flair by James Keith Posey.
Based on the memoirs of iconic striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, this 1959 Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim offering has been hailed by some as the "greatest American book-musical" for its powerful story, memorable songs, and extraordinarily forceful central character who has been played by such theatre icons as Ethel Merman, Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Angela Lansbury, Rosalind Russell, Tyne Daly, and Imelda Staunton.
At Pike Road, Jennifer Hollett joins their ranks in taking on the role of Rose, a tunnel-visioned stage mother in a love-hate relationship with her daughters June [Bella Posey] and Louise [Kaylee Baker], who she drags around the vaudeville circuit in her quest for successful performing careers from their childhood to young adult women. They eke out a living while Rose conducts herself in ever more forceful ways for them to make it to the big time, while vicariously living out her own dreams of living in the spotlight. -- And it takes its toll on their relationships as well as on Rose's business and romantic relationship with Herbie [Eric Arvidson], a manager who wants to marry her and puts up with her demands and tirades until he can't take it any longer.
Over the course of almost a three-hour playing time [the time rarely lags as the Pike Road Company keep us entertained and engaged throughout], we see the un-glamorous side of show business, the ups and downs of several careers, the demands and sacrifices of theatre gypsies looking for their big break, the assortment of talents from these local actors, and the passion felt by those in thrall of greasepaint and lights.
From childhood versions of Baby June [Caroline Suggs] and Baby Louise [Maddie Otwell] prancing their way through repetitive updates to "May We Entertain You" to a cleverly staged segue to the grown up June and Louise, and the various chorus boys and girls invigorating the story line, audiences are treated to colorful production numbers -- and yes, there's a cow on-stage.
Key to both advancing the plot and demonstrating the talents of the cast are songs like "Some People", "You'll Never Get Away from Me", "If Momma Was Married", "All I Need Is the Girl", "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "You Gotta Get a Gimmick", and, of course "Rose's Turn", each of which has achieved permanency in the musical theatre repertoire.
No matter how much we feel for June [the talented headliner] and Louise [relegated to the background], and finding when June deserts them to marry tap-dancing Tulsa [Kevin Mohajerin], and understand Louise's reluctance to take to the burlesque stage on her mother's dictum to "strut and drop a shoulder strap...but always be a lady", the focus is always on Rose...and Ms. Hollett commands the stage and our attention and admiration. She never falters either vocally or in presenting a complex character. It's quite a powerful performance from start to finish.
