By Khalida Sarwari
Many critics have dubbed “Gypsy” one of the greatest American musicals of all time, and the South Bay Musical Theatre is among those companies that have staged it more than once.
Under the direction of Janie Scott, the theater company is reviving “Gypsy,” which tells the tale of Mama Rose (played by Molly Thornton), a stage mother who ambitiously engineers her children’s theatrical careers, but struggles to cope with one daughter’s rise to burlesque stardom. The story offers a close look into theatrical life both on stage and off.
The show is loosely based on the memoirs of real-life striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. The 1957 memoir that inspired the Broadway musical follows Rose’s efforts to raise two daughters to perform on stage, with the character of Louise based on Lee and the character of June based on Lee’s sister, the actress June Havoc.
“One of the themes,” said producer Dave Leon, “is family: what a family is, how families–in show business especially–are, how they interact with each other. One of the most important things about this show is what kind of lengths will a person go to for their children.”
Gypsy has been revived on Broadway four times since its 1960 premiere, and the South Bay Musical Theatre has brought it to the stage at least two other times, according to Leon. The last time was in 2004.
“It is one of the seminal works of the American musical theater canon,” said Leon. “It never gets old. It’s the kind of show that has every sort of familiar theme that any story has. Everything about the show is well written. The music is fantastic, the lyrics are wonderful; there is not a misstep in the show in the way it is written.”
Written by Jule Styne, the score features such hits as “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” and “Together, Wherever We Go.”
Gypsy runs from May 21 through June 11 at the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. Performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. There’s an opening night gala on May 21, which includes a catered champagne reception following the show.
Tickets are $20-$35 and can be purchased at the door, online at southbaymusicaltheatre.com or by calling 408.266.4734.
