Everything Came Up Roses!- Gypsy The Musical Review

★★★★★

I'm being completely honest when I say that before I went to see Gypsy on Thursday, at the Royal Exchange in Manchester, I knew nothing about the show. Usually I like to go into a musical knowing the plot and at least a few of the songs but I went to see this completely blind. And it was incredible! 

The show is set in the round, meaning the audience is facing inwards, circling the performance space, whilst the performance takes place in the centre. This style of staging made the performance much more intimate and allowed you to get to know the characters in a much closer proximity. In the round is something I've never experienced in a performance before and it opened my eyes to a whole new style of theatre.

For those who don't know the plot of Gypsy, I'll give a quick summary. The show begins with an ambitious mother trying to convince a theatre owner that her daughters' Vaudeville act is the best and should be used in his show. This is a long running theme, particularly in the first act. I won't give any spoilers in this, for anyone who wants to go and see it, but the show simply follows the family as the daughters grow up and begin to want to break away from their mother's plans to make them stars in show business. Gypsy also demonstrates the transition in theatre from Vaudeville to Burlesque in the late 1800's, something which before watching this show, I knew nothing about. The show is ultimately an example of classical musical theatre, something which I think is lacking nowadays, as newer musicals are being written and taking over the West End.

Playing Mamma Rose, the enthusiastic, yet sometimes overbearing mother of Louise and June, is Ria Jones, a legend in Musical Theatre! Her performance of Rose was flawless and allowed the audience to connect to her character from the start of the show. It was evident that Rose lived vicariously through her daughters from early in the performance, leaving some people questioning whether she was pushing them for her own gain instead of for their benefit. A notable relationship in the show is between Rose and her long suffering partner Herbie. Herbie's compassionate and gentle nature contrasts Rose's forceful personality; yet the one thing they both have in common is their determination to succeed. The chemistry between Ria Jones and Dale Rapley who played Herbie is clear to the audience and makes for enjoyable viewing. Jones' singing matched her incredible acting and her performance gave the audience a masterclass in classical musical theatre.

Melissa James was another standout performance as Mamma Rose's oldest daughter: Louise. Beginning the show overlooked, with all the attention on her younger sister June, Louise comes into her own when she discovers the new theatre style of Burlesque. I've seen Melissa in The Bodyguard as Nikki Marron, back in 2015, so I knew of her singing capabilities, however the role was completely different so it was like almost like seeing her talent from a new perspective. Her personality was infectious and her performance was entirely engaging.

The whole cast are extremely talented, with incredible choreography and a timeless score written by Steven Sondheim. Sadly the show finishes today, however I would definitely keep an eye out for when it next comes back to a venue near you. It is definitely a show you don't want to miss!