'Gypsy' Savoy Theatre *****

The musical theatre genre in the commercial sector has been combating a long and lengthy list of failures for the last couple of years; nevertheless this could all be at an end with a transfer production from the prestigious Chichester Festival Theatre. The West End transfer of Arthur Laurent, Julie Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s 1959 musical, ‘Gypsy’ was an astounding production that is simply out of this world and accompanied by mesmerising performances.

‘Gypsy’ is based on the memoirs of burlesque performer, Gypsy Rose Lee. We are accustomed to domineering stage mother, Rose whose two children, June and Louise have been forced to perform the same vaudeville act over and over again. When Rose has a meeting with former talent agent, Herbie she entices him to become the manager for June and Louise by using her seductive façade.  To escape her Pop (Harry Dickman), Rose steals a beloved item of his for cash and with this she travels across the United States with this vaudeville performance and throughout the show, June (Gemma Sutton) and Louise now older are becoming distressed by Rose’s passion with the act and as such this has caused problems with their development and maturity.  As well as, the boys that Rose had kidnapped many years before, Tuska (Dan Burton), L.A. (Roger Dipper), Yonkers (Kieran Jae) and Little Rock (Luke Street) have also had enough of the monotonous act too.  June really wants to be an actress and Louise just wants to learn of her real age, as such; Rose’s daughters are desperate to become young women rather than be treated as children.  When Rose turn’s down June’s offer for a place at a top Performing Arts college from Mr Goldstone (Jack Chissick), this leads to June making a sensible decision for herself and writes a letter to her mother explaining that her mother has ruined her life and then goes missing.  Intrinsically, Louise is pushed to be the part that June has done for years and years and with the act fading as Tulsa has been working on a dance performance that he wants to perform without the act.  As soon as Louise comes into contact with three burlesque performers, Mazeppa (Louise Gold), Electra (Julie Legrand) and Tessie Tura (Anita Louise Combe) this inspires Louise to grow up and become a burlesque star.  Alternatively, as Rose and Herbie are about the get hitched on the same day, Herbie realises that Rose is not suitable to be an adoring wife and leaves her at the theatre venue. The years pass on by and Louise has grown into one of the world’s most famous burlesque artistes with the stage name, “Gypsy Rose Lee” but Rose is enormously jealous of her daughter’s notoriety and her difficult presence is evident when Rose is about to have a raunchy photoshoot  for a magazine. With this Louise tells her to leave the room in a heated argument, Rose is deeply upset by this. After her debate with Louise, Rose in a heart-rending moment claims that she could have been a star if she didn’t have children to look after and at the finale, Louise takes her mother’s hand and the walk to join a party that’s in Louise’s honour. Laurent’s narrative is superlative as it is based on factual events and it has been formulised in a remarkable manner, in addition to this, Styne and Sondheim’s musical numbers such as; “Let Me Entertain You”, “If Momma Was Married”, “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” and “Rose’s Turn” are phenomenal pieces of musicality.    

One found the performances by the company of, ‘Gypsy’ to be outstanding through flawless vocals and stupendous chorographic sequences.  Imelda Staunton is beautiful and extraordinary as central protagonist, Rose; chiefly how her portrayal of Momma Rose will be very much remembered for many decades to come and it her performance of this character is definitely the finest musical performances I have ever witnessed. Peter Davison is stunning as agent and Rose’s fiancée, Herbie; particularly how much he really worships Rose for who she is and his and Staunton’s vocals in “You’ll Never Get Away From Me”  was pleasing to see how their romance  has been developing over time.  Lara Pulver is glittering as Rose’s burlesque and slightly unconfident daughter, Louise; specifically when she cultivates so much confidence to perform burlesque for the very first time and this soon becomes her career choice. Moreover, her rendition of “Let Me Entertain You” was increasingly flirtatious indeed. 

Jonathan Kent’s direction is exquisite here and with superb choreography by Stephen Mear we are guided on a charismatic and moving journey of Rose and Louise’s relationship, furthermore, the characterisations are hugely comprehensive are the dance ensemble compliment this too in such a magnificent approach.  Anthony Ward’s set and costume designs are extraordinary as the quick changes of locations shows the expedition that Rose, Louise etc. have gone on and the years passing by shows how times and moods have changed in terms of what is popular. As well as the inclusion of grand video design by Ian William Galloway and spectacular lighting design by Mark Henderson and sublime sound design by Paul Groothuis clarifies how perfect this show is. Overall, the experience of, ‘Gypsy’ is one I will never forget in my entire existence and simply go people.