ROSE had me hooked from the first number.
That’s Moma Rose. Miss Gypsy Rose Lee hooked me in later in this stupendous production of the Styne and Sondheim telling of the rise to fame of the world’s most famous burlesque stripper.
Although the story based on the memoirs of Louise Hovic, aka Gypsy Rose Lee, tells of her rise to fame from the fading halls of vaudeville to sultry, stripping sensation, it is really a vehicle for her formidable mother Rose, played here by the formidable force that is Imelda Staunton.
Staunton is quite simply superb as the brash, gutsy, mother of all pushy stage momas who takes no prisoners in her ambition to win the stardom for daughters Baby June and Baby Louise that she failed to find for herself.
Imelda Staunton as Rose. Picture by Johan Persson
In what must surely mark yet another watershed in a career that is peppered with accolades, Staunton delivers the Rose of perfection.
Her vocal performances are tremendous, from her opening number Some People, through such classics as Mr Goldstone, and You’ll never get Away From Me, to the thundering Everything’s Coming Up Roses and soaring finale, Rose’s Turn. Stupendous.
With comic timing to die for, Staunton’s diminutive frame adds not subtracts from her presence on stage as she jousts with on-off fiancé Herbie, played by a towering Kevin Whatley of TV’s Lewis fame. Whatley growls out his duets with Rose as the pair cavort through the dying days of vaudeville, dragging a wonderfully comic troupe of child performers in their wake.
It is Baby Louise, of course, who finally flowers, blossoming from insignificant, short on talent understudy to her Baby-Doll sister to become the Gypsy Rose Lee performer of legend.
Lara Pulver plays Gypsy, the swan that sheds her dowdy feathers to glide into the spotlight.
And how Miss Pulver glides!
In a performance to elevate red blood to dangerous levels, this Gypsy exudes sex appeal while managing to maintain, alluringly, most of her clothes. Her stock-in-trade may have been stocking trade, but this Miss Lee is all promise and tease, and the audience loved it.
The show includes some fabulous comic turns, most notably when Gypsy is taught how to bump and grind by three veterans of the stripping circuit.
A strong supporting cast, including an energetic and talented children’s ensemble, ensures every moment of this production soars.
But it is Miss Staunton’s performance that lingers longest. Shed your clothes if needs be to get a ticket.
Gypsy runs until November 8.
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