Review: Gypsy, A Musical Fable

Review: Gypsy, A Musical Fable | Performance Now Theatre Company | Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO | Curtain Up | Eric Fitzgerald

Performance Now Theatre Company’s staging of Gypsy, A Musical Fable at the Lakewood Cultural Center arrives carrying the weight of a truly seminal title—Jule Styne’s powerhouse score, Stephen Sondheim’s razor‑edged lyrics, and a book that helped define the modern American musical. Under the direction of Brandon Bruce, with music director Heather Iris Holt, this production delivers a solid, respectable take on the classic, buoyed by the welcome presence of a live orchestra—an increasingly rare luxury in contemporary regional theatre—even if it doesn’t quite reach the thrilling heights the material can achieve.

Set in the fading world of vaudeville, Gypsy follows Rose (Jennifer Burnett), a fiercely determined mother who’s convinced her daughters—spotlight‑loving June (Alayna Weber) and quiet, overlooked Louise (Victoria Holloway)—are destined for stardom. With loyal manager Herbie (Joel Silverman) at her side, Rose drives the trio from theater to theater, chasing opportunity, applause, and a future she’s certain is just within reach. As the family navigates ambition, identity, and the shifting landscape of show business, their journey becomes a portrait of performance, persistence, and the complicated love that binds them.

Jennifer Burnett as Rose | Photography credit: RDGPhotography

As Rose, Jennifer Burnett delivers a solid, sharply etched performance, her emotions landing with deliberate precision that suits the character’s relentless drive. She brings clarity and intention to her work, shaping emotionally resonant renditions of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Rose’s Turn” that carry strong dramatic weight.

Joel Silverman brings real weight to Herbie, delivering a grounded, quietly compelling performance that anchors the story’s emotional stakes. His presence provides a crucial bridge between Rose and her daughters, and he plays that role with warmth, tension, and just the right touch of vulnerability. Alayna Weber, as June, delivers a bright, well‑shaped performance that fits the character’s polished stage persona, capturing both the charm and the practiced poise that Rose works so hard to cultivate.

L to R Victoria Holloway, Jennifer Burnett | Photography credit: RDGPhotography

Victoria Holloway offers the most arresting arc of the leading quartet, guiding Louise from a sidelined “second banana” in Rose’s relentless chase for stardom to the effervescent, unstoppable force of Gypsy Rose Lee. Her work is quietly radiant, revealing a sly, understated wit that eases Louise’s entry into the bold, high‑voltage world of burlesque. Holloway’s transformation feels organic and thrilling, giving the audience a performer whose emergence becomes one of the production’s defining pleasures.

The trio of strippers—Tessie Tura (Annie Dwyer), Mazeppa (Katherine Paynter), and Electra (Cole Emarine)—inject the show with a burst of comic bravado, each seizing their moment in “You Gotta Get a Gimmick.” All three carve out sharply defined characters, but Emarine, as Electra, makes especially memorable use of the spotlight, turning the number into a gleeful showcase of timing, personality, and pure theatrical spark.

The ensemble is one of the production’s great strengths, shifting effortlessly among a wide range of roles—from eager child performers to young adults swept into Rose’s ever‑expanding orbit. Their singing is full and confident, their dancing crisp and energetic, creating a vibrant backdrop that keeps the momentum of Gypsy pulsing throughout.

The wonderful ensemble of Gypsy | Photography credit: RDGPhotography

Under Brandon Bruce’s direction, the production weaves a rich, textured world, though it misses the mark in a few notable ways. Arthur Laurents’ book offers a bounty of dramatic and comedic moments, and while the more serious beats land firmly, many of the script’s sharper, playful lines don’t always receive the lift they deserve. Bruce also leans heavily into the darker contours of Rose’s journey, shaping a mood that at times pulls the audience into a shadowed emotional space that doesn’t consistently align with the musical’s traditional balance of grit and showbiz buoyancy. Still, his vision is unmistakably his own, and he follows it with a steady, deliberate hand throughout.

Under the musical direction of Heather Iris Holt, the production benefits from a strong sense of musicality that carries through every moment onstage. She guides the cast with assurance and leads a terrific ten‑piece offstage orchestra whose dedicated musicians give the evening a rich, authentic sound. Rebecca Dean’s choreography, while more restrained in its inventiveness, is executed with crisp discipline by the company, providing clean, well‑structured movement that supports the storytelling without distraction.

The physical production features an imaginative scenic design by Andrew Bates, with an elevated stage cleverly positioned to accommodate the show’s many shifting locations. Its constant presence subtly echoes Rose’s ongoing pursuit of show‑business glory. Cole Emarine’s costume design is richly detailed, offering thoughtful touches that help define character and era. Brett Maughn’s lighting design, however, often leans toward lower levels of illumination, which at times makes it difficult to distinguish the principal players—particularly Rose—from the background. This appears to be an intentional stylistic choice aligned with the broader directorial approach.

This is a solid and thoughtfully assembled production of Gypsy, A Musical Fable under Brandon Bruce’s direction, bolstered by standout performances and confidently delivered musical work that brings real vitality to this classic piece. It may not hit every moment with equal force, but the overall experience is engaging, heartfelt, and well worth the audience’s time.

Information and Tickets: https://lakewood.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1039