Monday , March 18 2024
Mary Lauren as Gypsy Rose Lee in 'Gypsy' at the Secret Theatre (Reiko Yanagi)
Mary Lauren as Gypsy Rose Lee in 'Gypsy' at the Secret Theatre (Reiko Yanagi)

Theater Review (NYC): ‘Gypsy’ at the Secret Theatre

Among its numerous distinctions, the Secret Theatre may be New York City’s best Off-Off-Broadway producer of big musicals in small spaces. No matter the talent available, Gypsy will present any such company with one of its greatest challenges: large cast, live-theater theme, powerhouse music, and one of Broadway’s toughest and most iconic roles in Mama Rose. Fortunately Gotham has no shortage of top stage talent, and Gypsy, with its book by Arthur Larents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is a can’t-miss when done well – as it is in the Secret Theatre’s sinewy new production.

Marcie Henderson builds her Rose from equal parts youthful energy and gritty gravitas, shouldering the heavy weight of expectation with powerful acting and singing, smoky charisma, and a bang-up climactic solo number. Mary Lauren is a polished, affecting Louise, transforming sleekly from mousy tomboy to notorious burlesque star. Triple-threat Taylor Elise Rector is a strong-voiced, spit-and-vinegar Dainty June.

Among the other numerous impressive performances, Gregory Omar Osborne dances magnificently as Tulsa, Blayne Gregg-Miller wins us over as a squeaky-voiced Tessie Tura, Greg Horton convinces warmly as the long-suffering Herbie, and Olivia Culver’s icicle-sharp Baby June centers a talented batch of children.

Gregory Omar Osborne in 'Gypsy' (Reiko Yanagi)
Gregory Omar Osborne in ‘Gypsy’ (Reiko Yanagi)

Rick Hamilton’s agile direction glues it all together by making smart use of the wide shallow stage and blocking the numbers such that, most of the time, we can hear the unamplified singing over music director Michael Liepper’s band. Kami Seymour’s spunky, funny choreography, hewing close to the show’s original spirit, is also crucial to the production’s success.

Any tuner this monumental is likely to emerge rough around the edges in such a small space. But the chips on the polish are small and few. The scrappy Secret Theatre, whose snazzy production of Cabaret was a highlight of the season last year, has done well by another classic big musical. Gypsy runs through March 3 at the Secret Theater in Queens, an easy and quick subway ride from Manhattan. Buy tickets online or at 718-392-0277.

About Jon Sobel

Jon Sobel is Publisher and Executive Editor of Blogcritics as well as lead editor of the Culture & Society section. As a writer he contributes most often to Music, where he covers classical music (old and new) and other genres, and Culture, where he reviews NYC theater. Through Oren Hope Marketing and Copywriting at http://www.orenhope.com/ you can hire him to write or edit whatever marketing or journalistic materials your heart desires. Jon also writes the blog Park Odyssey at http://parkodyssey.blogspot.com/ where he is on a mission to visit every park in New York City. He has also been a part-time working musician, including as lead singer, songwriter, and bass player for Whisperado.

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