EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES IN STONEHAM THEATRE’S GYPSY
Starring Wakefield’s Leigh Barrett & Emily Sheeran
There are plenty of good reasons to see the current production of Gypsy at Stoneham Theatre, especially if you’re from Wakefield.
First, Gypsy is the quintessential American musical, an instant classic from the day the original production starring Ethel Merman opened on Broadway in 1959.
Second, in an effort to make the current production its biggest and best ever, Stoneham Theatre has pulled out all the stops, with a cast of 25 (including two dogs) and an 8-piece band on stage providing live instrumental accompaniment for the songs. The result is top-notch professional musical theater that you don’t have to travel to Boston or Beverly to see.
From a purely Wakefield point of view, there are two more compelling reasons to see Gypsy. The show features two actresses with Wakefield roots.
Wakefield native and 1983 WHS graduate Leigh Barrett plays the lead female role of Mama Rose, the brash and overbearing stage mother of sisters Louise and June, whom she is determined to make into show business stars.
Barrett is a multiple award-winning actress who has risen to the top of her profession with starring roles in shows like Sweeney Todd, Jacques Brel, Threepenny Opera, Follies, Souvenir and Ragtime. She has appeared on professional stages all over Boston, as well as North Shore Music Theatre and Gloucester Stage Company.
Playing the role of Baby June is Walton School fourth grader Emily Sheeran, daughter of Chip and Elizabeth Sheeran and granddaughter of Wakefield Selectman Betsy Sheeran. Emily has already compiled an impressive professional resume with performances at North Shore Music Theatre, Stoneham Theatre and others.
Sporting blond curls and a red and white polka-dot dress, Emily is endearing as Baby June, singing “May We Entertain You?” as one half of the sister act that also included the less-talented Louise (who as an adult took the stage name “Gypsy Rose Lee.”)
Gypsy is based on the autobiography of Gypsy Rose Lee, and tells the story of Mama Rose’s determined if misguided drive to push her daughters to stardom in the waning days of vaudeville. The show follows the girls from a very young age into adulthood, with different actresses playing the girls as they grow up. Following Emily Sheeran’s “Baby June” comes Lauren Wood as the teenage “Dainty June.”
Emily Pinto plays Baby Louise until Eve Kagan picks up the role as the teenage Louise and ultimately Gypsy Rose Lee. Kagan does a nice job balancing the shy, vulnerable young Louise who is uncomfortable with life on stage, and the adult Gypsy Rose Lee—-a glorified stripper/actress who carved out a show biz persona and career of her own despite her mother’s push as much as because of it.
Leigh Barrett humanizes the brash, stubborn Mama Rose, revealing her authentic love for her girls, even as she tries to live her own life through them.
I won’t pretend to be an expert on singing voices, but when you see and hear Barrett perform standards like “Small World,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Together Wherever We Go,” you will understand why she has received such wide acclaim.
Veteran stage actor Scott H. Severance plays Mama Rose’s long-suffering suitor and the girls’ agent.
If you don’t go to see Gypsy because of local connections like Leigh Barrett and Emily Sheeran, then go see it because it is top-notch musical theater starring some of the region’s best professional talent.
Gypsy runs through October 7 at Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St., Stoneham. For show times and tickets, go online at http://www.stonehamtheatre.org/ or phone 781-279-2200.
[GYPSY, by Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Caitlin Lowans. Set Designer, Gianni Downs. Costume Designer, Jenna Lourenco, Lighting Designer, Christopher Ostrom. Production Stage Manager, Sarah Hilary Johnson. Production Manager, Dave Brown. Choreographer, Kelli Edwards. Music Director, Todd C. Gordon.]
This review originally appeared in the Wakefield Daily Item.
Filed under: Columns & Essays, Community, Reviews, Wakefield | Leave a Comment
Tags: Emily Sheeran, Gypsy, Leigh Barrett, musical theater, Stoneham Theatre
Search this site
Categories
Flickr Photos
Archives
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
Recent Comments
Mario on Ox Bow Pet Shop Closing Marks… Ed Cutting, Ed. D. on Flagging allegiance Ed Cutting, Ed. D. on Flagging allegiance Nancy Trimper on Flagging allegiance NANCY TRIMPER on Flagging allegiance Blog Stats
- 349,037 hits
LINKS
No Responses Yet to “EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES IN STONEHAM THEATRE’S GYPSY”