Next Door’s
GYPSY (running through March 29th) is a study in contrasts: Kerry A.
Dowling stars as Mama Rose, the ferocious, over the top mother of all stage
mothers, practically devouring her young while she professes to make them
“stars.” Marge Dunn is her polar opposite as sweet Louise, the overlooked
sister who finally comes into her own to become Gypsy Rose Lee, consort of
kings (Hollywood kings, that is: Many years later she revealed that director
Otto Preminger had fathered her son.). The Arthur Laurents/Jule Styne/Stephen
Sondheim musical stops the story after Baby June leaves and Louise becomes a
star but their real life stories could fill another whole musical.
Some of the
scenes seem crowded into the corners of the stage in director SaraJane Mullins
Pompeo’s production, making Next Door’s GYPSY seem unnecessarily claustrophobic
but some fine performances (and clever choreography) center the story. Haven
Periera and Eowyn Young play June and Louise as children, introducing the “Let
Me Entertain You” number which will take on an entirely different meaning when
Louise grows up to perform David Costa’s smart, suggestive choreography in the
burlesque.
Allison Russell
and Dunn excel as the sisters: Their “If Mama Was Married” is as innocent as it
is charming. (You really notice Dan Rodriguez’ stripped down, four piece
orchestra in some numbers but not that one.) Doug Jabara is a kindly Herbie
(whose “Together” with Dowling and Dunn is delightful) and Robert Hallisey
shines in several roles (a sleazy clown, an overwhelmed Mr. Goldstone and a crusty,
cigar chomping stagehand). But it’s Sarah Jones who runs away with the show as
the tough, trumpeting stripper with the “Gimmick.” She doesn’t miss a note. If
only she’d been in the pit.
