 GYPSY
A Musical Fable,
Book by Arthur Laurents : Music by Jule Styne Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
: Suggested by memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee
Broadway Theatre 21 May, 1959 (702 perfs)
Piccadilly Theatre, London - 29 May, 1973
Story:
It is the 1920s, Mama Rose wants her daughters Louise
and June to be stars. Uncle. Jocko is rehearsing his Kiddie's Show .
Rose bludgeons him into hearing her girls, who render the opening number "May
We Entertain You", but Jocko is not entertained, and Rose storms home.
With just a little money, she pleads to Grandpa, she can sweep the girls
to stardom in Los Angeles. Grandpa won't sell his gold plaque from the
railroad company, but that's no problem to Rose. "Some People", she sings,
"Some people ain't me!". She grabs the plaque, the girls and Chowsie the
dog and is off to L.A. Herbie agrees to be Rose's agent, and they sing
a friendly duet, 'Small World". Everyone sings the celebratory "Mr. Goldstone".
Time passes and the troupe reach New York. Because of the depression times
are hard. Herbie wants Rose to give up the act and marry him, but she
says he must wait until her girls are stars. "You'll never get away
from me'', she sings.
They audition for the important Mr. Grantziger with the number "Broadway".
He offers to make June an actress on condition that Rose keeps away from
her. Rose rages out, leaving June and Louise lamenting their showbiz fate
in "If Mama Was Married". They journey on. Tulsa, one of Rose's boys,
is rehearsing a routine of his own; Louise joins in, and they sing "All
I Need Is A Girl". On the railroad platform in Omaha Rose is deserted
by the other boys; she hears that June, has married Tulsa and run away:
the act is finished. The indomitable Rose switches her ambitions to Louise
in "Everything's Coming Up Roses". In Texas, Rose is rehearsing Louise who has no talent and knows it: Herbie,
Rose and Louise keep their spirits up with "Together Wherever We Go",
The act is now Rose, Louise and Her Hollywood Blondes, and Herbie accidentally
books them into a strip joint. Louise has a lesson from the strippers
in "You Gotta Get A Gimmick", They decide to stay for two weeks at the
joint, and then, Rose promises she will marry Herbie and finish the act.
The last day comes; the star stripper has been arrested. Rose persuades
Louise to take her place, The faithful Herbie at last walks out on Rose
in disgust. In a reprise montage of "Let Me Entertain You" we see Louise
hit stardom as the Queen of Strip, Gypsy Rose Lee.
In the final scene Rose visits Louise in her star dressing room. Rose
feels jealous and resentful that it is her dreams that have brought Louise
fame. They quarrel and Louise goes. Rose sings ''Rose's Turn", wishing
she had had Louise's chances. Louise returns to make friends with her
mother before the final curtain.
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CAST:-
Male - 16+ Female - 15+
Rose
Baby Louise later Louise
Baby June later June
Herbie
Tulsa
Yonkers
LA
Agnes
Tessie Tura
Mazeppa
Electra
Uncle Jocko
Mr Goldstone, George, Arnold, Pop, Weber, Kringelein, Miss Cratchit,
Patsey. Cigar, The Hollywood Blondes, The Newsboys, etc.
Plus Showgirls, Chorus and Dancers |
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