Northampton Community College has staged a powerfully-performed and very satisfying “Gypsy” as it continues its Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Series.
The classic musical “Gypsy” is through July 5 in Lipkin Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township.
“Gypsy” is the story of ultimate stage mother Rose, played with no holds barred by Julia Urich, as hse drags her two daughter across the country in the 1920s trying to make them successful on the vaudeville circuit.
The story is inspired by the 1957 memoir of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and on whom the character of Louise, played by a memorable Eileen Lee, is loosely based.
Urich’s powerhouse Rose is a force to be reckoned with, formidable and unbending in her drive to make her daughters stars. She shows Rose’s gritty determination in songs like “Some People” and “Everything is Coming Up Roses,” and displays the character’s underlying true desires in the revealing “Rose’s Turn.”
As Rose’s daughter Louise, Lee makes the character a compliant wallflower doing whatever her mother
wants without complaint. Her solo on “Little Lamb” is touching and heartbreaking. It is especially satisfying when Lee’s doormat Louise breaks out of her shell to become Gypsy Rose Lee and stand up to her mother.
As Rose’s other daughter June, Jenna Seasholtz hits all the right notes. She is relentlessly perky, confidant and comfortable in the spotlight. The purposely bad vaudeville scenes are lots of fun and Seasholz pulls them off with aplomb. A highlight is “If Momma Was Married” a delightful duet between Lee and Seasholz with great harmonies.
As baby June, Sarah Panettiere also impresses with natural charisma and effortless splits and high kicks. The role is shared with Elaina Bullen.
Jason Roth is great as Herbie, the former agent who falls for Rose and lives to regret it. Roth’s Herbie conveys the character’s considerable good will, as well as his own inner turmoil about Rose’s tactics.
Roth, Urich and Lee’s trio on “Together Wherever We Go” is a delight.
Kaleb Bell as Tulsa one of June back-up boys shows off his footwork in “All I Need is the Girl,” which also lets Lee show Louise’s overlooked yearning.
Always a comedic highlight in this show, is “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” sung by three second-rate strippers. Christine Breiner as Tessie Tura, Riley Lusk as Mazeppa and Ava Boyd as Electra deliver in the funny and eye-popping number. Kudos to costumer Todd Burkel and costume coordinator Bren Lamb for the strippers’ outfits.
This a show with a large cast and everyone contributes to the whole in a meaningful way.
Tina Williams’ choreography embraces vaudeville is ways that are both funny and evocative.
The two story set, cleverly showcased the band, led by music director Nick Conti, on the first level; provided a vaudeville stage in the front and had a second level smaller space for more intimate scenes.
Director Jessica Lopez-Barkl kept a brisk pace and gave the production lots of vaudeville flavor with card girls who walked across stage changed the display signs for each new scene, and hopeful performers auditioning in the background during scenes.
There will be a 5 p.m. show with a food truck celebration on July 4. Tickets for July 4 are pay-what-you-are-able.
Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for senior and $15 for students.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 27, July 1, 2 and 3; 2 p.m. June 28 and July 5 and 5 p.m. July 4.
For information, call 484-484-3412, or go to www.northampton.edu/about/college-theatre/summer-theatre/.