“Gypsy” opens with a sumptuous overture of tunes, with melodic highlights from the score by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondhein (lyrics), orchestrated by the incomparable Clarke Bright. He conducts a large (by Hawaii standards) 14-piece orchestra, which results in a rich, robust sound experience.
The show ends with a stunning, emotional “Rose’s Turn,” the climactic finale rendered by the leading lady, Mama Rose, enacted by Jacquelyn Holland- Wright. Rose is a stage mom who seeks the best for her two daughters while silently seeking elusive success herself. Jac, as the visiting singer-actress is known, turns in a career-best performance. She belts and trots to all sectors of the stage, claiming the space and conquering the pace in a finale that’s wow!
Yes, there’s an abundant number of creative talents in the I’m A Bright Kid Foundation’s revival of “Gypsy,” the evergreen musical about the dysfunctional family, playing two more weekends through Aug. 24 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College.
The show, with book by Arthur Laurents, offers extravagant elements not commonly featured in stage musicals in Hawaii these days.
Let’s start with the leading lady, a grown-up Bright Kid who portrayed Mama Rose in 1987 while at Castle High School when she was directed by Ron Bright. She’s on leave from her lead role in “Menopause” a hit on the Las Vegas scene, and here, she is a firecracker with a lit fuse, delivering an explosive, indelible performance as the indefatigable stage mother. If there’s an acting awards trophy here, she’d snap it up, pronto.
Ahnya Chang, doubling as director and choreographer, demonstrates she has the chops and depth to ignite this legacy show which seems dated because of the story, set in the early 20th century when vaudeville and burlesque were mainstream entertainment.
Maestro Bright, conductor of all IABK shows, waltzes through 13 numbers in Act 1 and seven in Act 2 and radiates energy and substance. That opening overture is dy-no-mite.
DeAnne Kennedy’s eye-filling, soul-embracing set design suits the era of the 1920s – four red ceiling-to-floor curtains for starters –with sundry other sites ranging from dressing rooms to a Chinese restaurant, from train stations to vaudeville stages. I’m uncertain if it’s her creation,too, but a mini marquee over the expanse of the stage is effective, announcing all the sites in the storytelling.
This craft of perpetuating tales and emotions and memories through songs and dance, has been the lasting mantra of Mr. B., who utilized the stage as a mecca for his simple mantra: believe in yourself.
And the parade of characters in “Gypsy,” from Mama Rose down to her daughters June and Louise who are forced to try out for show after show even with minimal talent, reflect the cycle of life in the theater. The connective links to life are the songs of hope and love, of happiness and pain.
The show was perceived to be a vehicle for Ethel Merman, who played Mama Rose on Broadway, and her spirit and sheen were surely the inspiration in Jac Holland-Wright, who has the pipes to deliver her songs with purity and punch. Her “Rose’s Turn” finale is a hallmark of belting.
There must be 60 to 70 cast members – kids and adults alike, some newbies, some veterans – and they are the army that give the show its grit, its gist, its gravitas.
Tani Siu, who portrays the grown-up Louise, is initially a timid stripper, but learns how to tease to maintain her dignity. Siu brings beauty and coyness to her Louise.
The “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” is the height of comedics, in voice and in gyration, with Tessie Tura (portrayed by Ligaya Stice), Mazeppa (played by Faith Kawai) and Electra (enacted by Camille Michel) demonstrating their idiosyncratic gifts: ballet with wings, trumpet-tooting, and lighted costumes, respectrively.
There are a couple of other standouts in the show. Swaine Kaui (as Herbie) is patient and dedicated, as the would-be hubby of Mama Rose.
(Local actor photos courtesy of Tracy Larrua of Poi Planet)
Drew Bright (as Tulsa) is emerging as a virile song-and-dance trouper, on his “All I Need Is The Girl” solo.
Scores of youngsters appear as dancing newsboys, farm boys, and toreadorables. Their unified spirit in song and dance is superb.
And Omnia Nova, as costume designer, had to clothe ‘em all (though some garb were rented); Kevin Murata and Mia Yoshimoto’s hair and make-up design was a task fulfilled, considering the scope of the cast and variety of styles. And Annie Yoshida’s props design included news boys’ canvas bags, a flashback to last season’s IABK “Newsies” show.
Further, lighting design by Janine Myers and sound design by Steven Nelson worked in unison, tackling some tricky elements, like flashing strobe lights and some vocal gymnastics.
“Gypsy” is one of the fabled shows of Broadway’s golden era of legacy productions with a rich score with singable tunes like “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Some People” and “If Momma Was Married.”
And that’s Show Biz…
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“Gypsy”
A Broadway musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; produced by the I’m a Bright Kid Foundation
What: A fable about an ambitious, determined stage mother, Rose, and her two daughters, June and Louise, who seek fame and fortune in the world of burlesque and vaudeville, in the early 20th Century
Where: Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
When: At 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, Aug.8 through Aug. 24
Tickets: $34 to $44 for adults, $29 for students 12-18, military and seniors and $24 for children, plus fees; visit https://cur8.com/projects/24380 or www.iabk.org