Show business isn’t all glamour and glitz; it is years of hard work and a never-ending line of rejection.
Palo Alto Players’ production of “Gypsy,” a 1959 Broadway biographical story of Gypsy Rose Lee, an internationally renowned burlesque dancer popular between the 1930s and 1950s, demonstrates a young performer’s transformation into a career she never imagined was possible. The play centers around the art of live entertainment, showing a behind-the-scenes look at Gypsy Rose and her little sister, June Havoc, as they grow up as child stars in vaudeville and then cast into a world that will eat you up.
It wasn’t all about the children in the story; it took a strong woman to get them to the top. Mama Rose (Caitlin Gjerdrum) was the ultimate stage mom who commanded the room and did whatever shady deal it took to make her children stars. In the beginning, Gypsy Rose Lee, or as a child known as Louise (Phoebe Wagner), and Baby June (Caitlin Segal), were at the whims of their mother and wherever she needed them to be. Baby June was the jewel of the family, having a successful act of being cute and doll-like for theatre houses across the country. Louise, however, was cast aside and given little potential to be the star.
Louise did not expect the attention as she grew up and did not believe she had any talent, displaying sadness in her eyes. While Louise’s mother and her talent agent boyfriend, Herbie (Ray D’Ambrosio), were booking for June, Louise was cast as a background character and largely neglected most of her childhood.
It wasn’t until their late teens that both sisters grew into themselves. The adult June (Samantha Borthwick) grew fatigued of her mother pushing her to remain a child and eventually ran away. Adult Louise (Whitney Hisako Moore) gradually gained confidence in herself and it took luck and circumstance for her to find her niche in the entertainment business.
Although Mama Rose wanted her daughters to make their mark in Hollywood, all of it stemmed from a negative place and jealousy. Both girls were caught under a raging mother who wanted her own success, and in the end, she ended up causing them to resent her. It is important to let a child grow naturally without forcing them into a profession that is demanding and filled with uncertain outcomes.
“Gypsy” will be performing at Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto through Sept. 21. For more information visit paplayers.org/event/gypsy.
