BWW Reviews: 'GYP...' at Meadowvale Theatre

Gypsy ranks as one of Broadway’s greatest musicals. It tells the more or less true story of Rose, a domineering stage mother whose dreams of stardom have caused her to push her daughter Louise into burlesque. One established as the celebrated striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, Louise - like her sister June before her - turns her back on her mother. 

In a harrowing five-minute musical nervous breakdown, Rose takes the spotlight on a bare stage in an empty theatre. We in the audience respond with cheers and applause but Rose goes on bowing long after it subsides. We were all part of her demented fantasy.  

Louise joins her. Rose is broken: she admits that she was the one who wanted all the glory and the daughter becomes the parent figure leading Rose away. She pauses for one last look at the stage, and the lights go out.  A short scene, but a powerful ending to a vibrant show.

Only problem is, if you go and see Theatre Unlimited’s production of Gypsy, you won’t see this final scene.  Someone has made the idiotic decision to bring the curtain down after “Rose’s Turn,” altering what the show is supposed to be about.

It would be like ending Death of a Salesman without Willy Loman’s funeral or bringing down the curtain on Sound of Music before the Von Trapps escape the Nazis.

It’s sad because there is some tremendous talent involved here. The direction is crisp and keeps building tension as the piece develops. The scenic drops are well designed and make for easy transitions between scenes. Best of all the songs are presented with equal care given to both Jule's Styne's brassy Broadway show tunes and Stephen Sondheim's insightful lyrics.

The three leads play off each other beautifully. Andrew Jackson provides the voice of reason as the hapless agent who follows Rose all over the country hoping in vain to eventually get her to marry him.  Candice Sheehan slyly turns young Louise from a shy insecure girl to a show business savvy stripper unafraid to tell her mother off.  

Maria De Palma offers a warmer, more human take on the role of Rose. There are a few scenes where we need to see more of Rose’s monstrous side, but she delivers a smashing "Everything's Coming Up Roses" and when it comes to “Rose’s Turn,” she covers all of the hurt and rage needed to make the number into the shattering moment it ought to be.

Too bad they ruin it by cutting the final scene.

Theatre Unlimited’s production of Gypsy plays at the Meadowvale Theatre until Sunday January 31. For tickets call the box office at  905-615-4720.

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