Review of "Gypsy"

Photo courtesy of Phyllis Swigart

Blair Youngs, as Baby June, performs a vaudeville number in the North Platte Community Playhouse production of "Gypsy." The final performances are at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21.

A Play About Dreams

I like a musical where I recognize at least some of the songs. The North Platte Community Playhouse performance of “Gypsy” provides at least two well-known songs – “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You.”

The final two performances of “Gypsy” will be presented at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Neville Center for the Performing Arts, Fifth and Dewey in North Platte.

“Gypsy” tells the story of strip teaser Gypsy Rose Lee, but it’s more about how she became Gypsy Rose Lee than it is about her career.

The play is about dreams – dreams lived and unrealized dreams – and living life through others, finding one’s place in a family, and eventually becoming one’s own person. While there is some comedy, there is a solid story line weaving the threads of the three main characters into one tapestry.

The play begins with Rose and the girls following the vaudeville circuit during the Great Depression.

Rose, who could have been the poster mom for backstage mothers, is portrayed by Edy Gainer Worick. She’s brash, bossy, pushy and domineering. You really want to dislike her, but you also sense some real heartache in her past that has driven her to be a survivor, no matter the cost.

Rose makes no pretense about favoring her daughter, June, played by Blair Youngs. June is outgoing and talented. Rose makes sure everyone knows that June is the star.

Louise, portrayed by Brittany Drullinger, is the opposite. She’s shy and out of step while performing. Even though her mother ignores her and spends her efforts grooming June for stardom, Louise is understanding and forgiving of her mother’s favoritism.

Dillon Edwards portrays Herbie, a former agent, who Rose convinces to represent her girls. He falls in love with Rose, who isn’t interested in marriage but she keeps Herbie in line with the promise that someday they would marry. In the end, ….. well, I’ll let you see how that turns out yourself.

Just a note: Three of the performers are dressed in what appear to be very scanty burlesque clothing. I was close enough to the stage that I can tell you the ladies are wearing flesh-colored body stockings (I guess that’s what you would call them). In other words, they are very modestly covered and the scanty costume is an illusion.

Solid performances are given by everyone in the cast, with special kudos to the four main characters:

- Worick performed professionally for 16 years with her show band “Edy Gainer & Dezire.” She moved to North Platte three years ago with her family. While living in Las Vegas, Worick performed in numerous musicals.
- Drullinger is general manager of the Playhouse. She appeared in 22 shows at North Platte High School and 25 shows in college. This is her first appearance on the NPCP stage in a musical in 10 years.
- Youngs is a senior at Paxton High School, where activities include plays, speech, dance team and student council. She will attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the fall.
- Edwards is a native of North Platte and has returned home after attending Hastings College. He performed in “Guys and Dolls” and “West Side Story” at NPHS, and in the Playhouse production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”



Other cast members were:
- Bill Drost, who has performed in more than 50 productions.
- John Hales has performed in many plays, both on and off stage, including set production.
- Jerromy Cissell is employed at Staples and is in the Army Reserves. He plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after returning from a six-month tour with Up With People.
- Sam Fisher has appeared in several Playhouse productions. He will attend college in the fall and study political science.
- Daniel Piskorski is an art student at North Platte Community College.
- Florence Gonzales-Todd enjoys singing and performing music for church and with her husband Gregg in his rock band.
- Martha Orcutt not only performed on stage in this production, but also helped in the costuming department.
- Amanda Marie Ferguson is a freshman at NPCC and plans to attend medical school with an emphasis on neonatology.
- Allison Klimek teaches sixth grade language arts at Adams Middle School. This was her fifth musical at the Playhouse.
- Jennifer Wellan is a deputy county attorney in the county attorney’s office. She is also co-coaching the NPHS Mock Trial team.
- Jennifer Hinrichs works for Drs. Baxter, O’Connor and French. She has been in several Playhouse productions and performs with the Heartland Singers.
- Amber Kniep was a member of the Crème De la Crème at UNL. She has performed a number of years with the Frontier Revue and in Playhouse productions.
- Linda Mooney makes her first appearance on stage in “Gypsy.” She volunteers at McDaid School and enjoys watercolor painting and quilting.
- Jennelle Worick is a seventh-grader at Hershey School. Last summer she took first place in talent in her age group at the Nebraska National American Miss Pageant.
- Minnie is the newest and youngest member of the Worick family. Minnie is a 7-month-old terrier-poodle mix. She was adopted from the North Platte Animal Shelter.

Director Arlene Petersen pulled all the mayhem and music together in her “maiden voyage” directing a musical production. She is a Realtor and part owner of Coldwell Banker Preferred Group.

Musical director Barb Booth lives in Maxwell. She was a music educator in public schools until her retirement in 2004. She is a Realtor at Gateway/GMAC Realty and choral director at NPCC.

Kent Kittle was the pianist for the production. He is self-employed as a piano tuner and instructor and plays in the Hatchbacks jazz quartet. He has been pianist for many of the musical productions at the Playhouse.

The music for the play was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The play is based on “Memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee,” by Arthur Laurents.

Tickets are available at the Playhouse from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, by going to http://www.northplattecommunityplayhouse.org/ or by calling 532-8559. Internet and phone ticket orders must be paid for with a credit card. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets will also be available at the ticket window in front of the theater.

The performers are volunteers and if you aren’t a performer, then please support the Playhouse and the performers with your presence. It’s going to be a slushy weekend, just the perfect weekend for attending a play and supporting the talent in this community. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.