THERE’S A NEW GYPSY IN TOWN
AND SHE’S STUNNING
In the 1920s, Rose Thompson Hovick steamrolled her way through vaudeville and lived vicariously through her reluctant young daughters, Louise and June, forcing them to act, sing, and dance to feed the family and her narcissism. Rose was one of the original “momagers,” a full-blown dictator obsessed with fame, and only when she died in 1954 did her daughters have the chance to tell their poignant stories. Louise’s autobiography inspired the musical Gypsy, opening in 1959 with celebrated music by Jule Styne, biting lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents; it became a seminal work of American musicals produced countless times all over the world.
Joy Woods & Audra McDonald
Danny Burstein, Joy Woods & Audra McDonald
What makes it news today is that, at the Majestic Theatre, six-time Tony-winner and classical soprano Audra McDonald is playing Rose, the tornado with jazz hands you will love to hate. Her powerful voice and stage presence will blow your mind. Director George C. Wolfe skillfully navigates the complex dynamics of her character ensuring that she remains sympathetic despite her awful flaws, and McDonald delivers, immaculately balancing high-energy funny sequences with emotionally charged moments. In the climactic “Rose’s Turn,” she gives an unforgettably intense performance; I felt the psychological breakdown, her descent into delusion, and at the same time the epiphany she is experiencing.
Kevin Csolak & Joy Woods
Joy Woods
Let’s go to the story: Rose drags her kids through the rickety showbiz circuit instead of sending them to school, no matter how much they beg for stability. She dotes on the younger daughter, Baby June, a saccharine starlet-in-training with acrobatic skills and an annoying high-pitched voice, played by the marvelous Marley Lianne Gomes and, later in age, Jade Smith. Baby Louise, the older daughter and a wallflower, played by Kyleigh Denae Vickers, is dedicated to personal sacrifice and family loyalty. An audition for Uncle Jocko (Jacob Ming-Trent) explains the wild family dynamics while Rose’s chance meeting with Herbie (a delightful Danny Burstein) elucidates her inner desperation.
Mylinda Hull, Joy Woods, Lesli Margherita & Lili Thomas
Years go by and they are still stuck in the American vaudeville circuit that is slowing dying. Rose and Herbie form a small company of teenagers who travel from city to city, landing in small theaters, hotel rooms, even camping when needed, but they are still penniless. The 1920s-’30s minimalist settings by Santo Loquasto reflect the transient nature of the characters’ lives with only a few exceptions, like a Hollywood producer’s office. Lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer contrasts the false glamour with the harsh realities of the Great Depression, using spotlights to isolate key performances and to highlight Rose’s constant domineering presence. Toni-Leslie James’s costumes echo the personalities of each character and the time transitions in soft tones while Camille A. Brown‘s choreography is sparkling in full vaudeville tradition, with slapstick, tap, swing, and burlesque.
Zachary Daniel Jones, Brendan Sheehan, Audra McDonald,
Andrew Kober, Danny Burstein, Jordan Tyson
Rose’s daughters are now young adults: Louise, 17, is played by the stunning, extremely talented Joy Woods who smoothly transitions from the meek unenthusiastic performer to a striptease queen; “Dainty” June, now 16, is played by lively Jordan Tyson (I reviewed both actresses in The Notebook and it was an absolute pleasure to see them again on stage so soon). June finally rebels and escapes with Tulsa – played by Kevin Csolak who performs a memorable dance number – and Rose is furious. She is left with the wallflower, the daughter she always neglected, Louise.
Audra McDonald
Forced to find an identity to make ends meet and please her Mama, Louise becomes Gypsy Rose Lee, an upscale unique stripper with a gimmick, an attitude, and enough sequins to blind a small village. In “Let Me Entertain You,” Woods evolves from innocent simplicity to sultry sophistication, completing her character’s arc and causing an immediate standing ovation. Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Miss Mazeppa, and Mylinda Hull as Miss Electra were also phenomenal as the older strippers who kindly introduced her to the new trade. Hull also sparkles as a jaded secretary, Miss Cratchitt.
Zachary Daniel Jones, Tony D'Alelio, Jordan Tyson, Kevin Csolak, Brendan Sheehan
Audra McDonald
I cannot remember how many ovations, roars, and laughter I heard during the performance. Unfortunately, it was late on a cold Wednesday night, so the pleased audience rushed to the exits when the bows were over, forgetting to acknowledge the splendidly amazing 26-piece orchestra, directed by Andy Einhorn. Gypsy is already a master class in theatrical storytelling with a richly layered narrative and a fantastic score, but Audra McDonald in Gypsy makes it even more significant, something you will not forget.
photos by Julia Cervantes
Gypsy
Majestic Theatre, 245 W 44th St.
2 hours and 40 minutes including one intermission
scheduled to end on June 29, 2025
for tickets visit Gypsy Broadway
