One of the classics of the musical theatre canon, "Gypsy" is a mountainous role for a leading lady - previously conquered by Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Imelda Staunton and recently Audra McDonald - it's a titanic lead role of the ultimate stage mother in a story that traipses across 1920s/30s America from Seattle to New York via Wichita, Buffalo and Omaha. It's an oddly built show - only three characters from Act One appear in Act Two - and an unusually deep character study - credited as "suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee", it focuses on her childhood and emergence to stardom as the former Rose Louise Hovick starts in the background as a supporting performer in her sister's vaudeville act before finally succeeding as one of the leading stars of burlesque. Arthur Laurents script, though, moves focus to their ambitious mother, who justifies herself that she's doing everything for her children, even as she keeps them in a permanent state of arrested development.
Playing this epic role is Emma White - Rose can come across as an unmodulated steamroller, but White is careful to keep her just on the right side of seductive in songs like "Small World" and "You'll Never Get Away from Me" before releasing her titanic side in "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and her finale "Rose's Turn". We're drawn into her shamelessness, whether it's helping out the kid's act during performances (tidying up hats and props), or stealing a bit of silverware in a restaurant, even as she negotiates future plans for her daughters' act. Emily Pogson as Louise, the future Gypsy, is endearingly wallflowerish during the first act, discovering her own power in act two as, in a montage, she develops an onstage persona both powerful and flirtatious. Steve Galinec as the act's agent and Rose's lover, Herbie, is an endearing scene partner with White, with a clear affection for both Rose and her children, and an emerging disappointment as it becomes impossible to break her mania with getting ahead in show-biz. Paris Ellis as June shows both the underlying talent and the frustration with being stuck repeating the same path for years. Ash Syme charms in his single scene and song as one of the act's supporting dancers,who doesn't realise how much Louise is crushing on him. The trio of strippers played by Aleisha Croxford, Alissa Pearson and Sarah Hull are a bawdy delight late in act two, smashing their song "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" (Pearson also is delightful as the persnickety secretary Miss Cratchet in act one).
Jude Colquhoun directs with a clarity and smoothess, letting the scenes have their full dramatic pwower. Belinda Hassall choreographs in appropriate vaudeville and burlesque styles. Brigid Cummins' music direction gives a great rendition of Jule Styne's powerful score. Zac Harvey's lighting design is a knockout from the striking pre-show image to the finale, and Telia Jansen's sound design is precise and clear.
"Gypsy" is a true classic musical given a powerful production from QP, with knockout performances at the centre and a killer score. If you're looking for one of the great Broadway musicals delivered in fine style, this is where you'll find it.
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