By Lucy Komisar
From the moment Audra McDonald enters to blasting horn music this is her show. Forget the great actors of the past, Merman to LuPone. With superlative acting and a stunning soprano, in every number her voice soars. McDonald is not just a singer who acts, with deep feeling and expressive moods, but an actor who sings, and it takes the play to a whole new dimension.
But wait, the brilliance of Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) which you realize is that his words were not just dropped in but tell the story…And Camille A. Brown’s choreography with US 6 road signs and model T’s –this new production by George C. Wolfe expresses the greatness of American musical theater.
A mother wants to make her kids bigtime singing stars. It starts very hokey. (Anything with flag-waving stuff in the midst of U.S. murdering people all over the world is hokey.)
Her June is an over-the-top child actor, sister Louise is quiet, but you notice a subtle charmer. With the help of Mr. Goldstone on the Orpheum circuit, the kids grow up.
Herbie, the salesman and former agent Rose connects with wants to marry her. But her first goal: make it big with the kids. The kids get older, June still has a screechy tone. Newsboys are in tux and top hats.
Then Grantziger who runs the Palace Theatre wants June to go to acting school. And the kids: “If Momma was married” she would get off their backs,
Among the terrific performers is male dancer Tulsa (Kevin Csolak), who does a jazzy tap “All I need is the girl.“ He is debonair, twists and jumps. June runs away with him.
Rose to Louise: I had a dream. You’ll be great, have the world. Everything coming up roses. She dominates the stage. Rose holds her, smothers her.
Things are tough. Vaudeville is dead. Rose and Louise end up in a burlesque house unaware it’s for strippers. The house needs a fill in for $10. The deal is you need a gimmick. One dancer has a red plume, another trumpets, another a flapping butterfly. Rose pushes Louise to be “a lady” with long white gloves: “Let me entertain you”
Herbie, who wants to marry Rose and make a home, is offended, leaves. But Louise is gorgeous, in a Paris venue she reminds one of Josephine Baker. She is photographed by Vogue as a glamorous star with elegant marcelled hair. She goes to big parties. She has made it. (Joy Woods, stunning as actor and singer in this show, has “made it.”)
Backdrop at Minsky’s, Rose, why she did it leads to “Roses Turn,” the play’s stand-up audience cheering moment. Rose never dominated the system as she does this play, but both her daughters did. June became June Havoc, a prominent movie actress. And Louise was world famous Gypsy Rose Lee. A brilliant feminist story about women’s struggles.
“Gypsy.” By Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) Directed by George C. Wolfe. Choreographed by Camille A. Brown. Majestic Theatre 245 West 44th St. NYC. 2 1/2 hours. Opened Dec 19, 2024. Review on NY Theatre Wire.