GYPSY - Majestic Theatre (22/03/25)

The part of "Mama Rose" has become one of the most sought after, yet most demanding lead roles for female performers in all of musical theatre, as it requires masterful vocal dexterity, enormous acting and emotional maturity, and an unwavering command of a stage that can draw one's attention any time they are in view. These criteria in mind, it must be a daunting prospect for any performer, regardless of their experience or stature in the industry, to follow greats like Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters or Imelda Staunton into portraying this gargantuan icon of musical theatre.

It is uniquely unorthodox in many ways for the title character to not be the star of the show, and I think this is particularly clever on the part of Merman and producer David Merrick, who conceived the idea of an interpretation of parents living their children's lives, a spin that tempted book writer Arthur Laurents to join the writing team. A complex thread of clashing creative visions, and first choice composers Irving Berlin and Cole Porter turning the project down, led to Stephen Sondheim and Jule Styne becoming the writers of the lyrics and music respectively. Over 65 years later, and Gypsy has become one of the most beloved, as well as most revived musicals in broadway history.

Audra McDonald as Rose in Gypsy (credit: Julieta Cervantes)

And it seems fitting, in one of Sondheim's most frequently performed pieces of theatre, (that I happened to attend on what would have been his 95th birthday) to have cast broadway's most frequently decorated performer Audra McDonald as everyone's favourite tyrannical helicopter parent, a role it looks like she was born to play. McDonald commands that stage with a palpable ferocity, as we have become so accustomed to her doing, showcasing her striking, powerful voice in act one anthems "Some People" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

It was in seminal eleven o'clock number "Rose's Turn", however, that McDonald absolutely blew the roof off the Majestic Theatre, in what was a rip-roaring, era defining performance in which she left absolutely everything out there on stage, and quite rightly elicited a lengthy standing ovation from each and every audience member present to behold a theatrical legend at the height of her powers. In a brilliantly performed, stunningly designed, and expertly directed revival, McDonald is the jewel in the crown.

The 2024 broadway company of Gypsy (credit: Julieta Cervantes)

All that said, in spite of Rose and the pertinent performer depicting her being, in the eyes of many, the predominant focal point of this musical, she is by no means the sole estimable element, as certainly in this instance, she is joined on stage by a smorgasbord of sensational talent. Danny Burstein is never one to be overlooked, and there is a reason he's been cast in 19 different broadway shows, with his own impressive range of Tony nominations; his take on Herbie is equally fiery, and his onstage relationship with McDonald was a perpetual treat.

Additionally, portraying the titular Gypsy Rose, we had Shanel Bailey, a relative broadway novice, who showed absolutely no signs of trying to keep up with her seasoned co-stars, instead matching, and even occasionally outshining them; certainly one to watch for the future. The ensemble deserve major plaudits too, as do the various young performers, especially the audaciously spunky Jade Smith as Baby June, who has taken to broadway like a fish to water, endearing us to her immediately and fully.

Scenic designer Santo Loquasto and lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer also combine brilliantly, for some truly vivid, characterful visuals. It wasn't always an enormous spectacle though, as they always knew when to pull it back, and let the scene speak for itself, most notably in Rose's final showstopping number, where we had barely more than a black backdrop. This is a production that, though not necessarily breaking a great deal of new ground, will still always be remembered, not least for both its stellar supporting cast, and the broadway legend taking the reins and steering us through what was a hugely entertaining evening at the theatre, which is surely what we are all there for.

★★★★☆

"Gypsy" currently runs at the Majestic Theatre on broadway, and is booking until the 31st of August.