Western Branch's 'Gypsy' production promises to be 'the entire package'

Let Western Branch High School entertain you.

Chesapeake's answer to Broadway has an upcoming musical with memorable songs, great characters, a game cast of students, plenty of laughs and the mother of all stage mothers.

Directed by the school's drama head, Kay Sykes, the students will present Julie Styne and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical, "Gypsy." Performances are Thursday and Friday in the school auditorium.

Lest you think Lynne Spears and Dina Lohan are the ultimate stage mothers, they're wimpettes compared to Rose, one of Broadway's most infamous characters. Noted critic Clive Barnes once described her as "bossy, demanding, horrific" and "one of the few truly complex characters in the American musical."

Sykes and her student cast of 81 are ready to present the musical chronicles of Rose and how she tries to ramrod her daughters into show business.

Rose has two daughters: the talented and extroverted Baby June, whom mom pushes to the extreme; and introverted, shy Louise. Rose meets a former agent, Herbie, and persuades him to be their manager. But later Baby June tires of her mother's smothering and runs off to marry "one of the boys in the act." That leaves mom to concentrate on Louise, whom she transforms into a monstrous, demanding diva and an extreme mirror-image of Rose herself.

Brianna Bos, a junior who will portray Louise, has seen such stage mothers first- hand.

"I've always done theater as a kid because it's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "But I've seen plenty of kids pushed into it, forced into it, and made to do it, so I can relate to that. But thank goodness my mother was never like that."

Sykes said the musical is more than just Rose's machinations.

"It's set in the late 1920s and early '30s, and its also about the end of vaudeville and the Great Depression," she explained. "We hadn't done this before, and I always try to expose my students to different musicals, all genres."

Sykes said her production of "Gypsy" will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere, showcasing the life of itinerant dancers who perform from town to town.

"I also chose this because many contend this is the best musical ever written," Sykes added. "The songs are great, the story's great and it's also very funny and heartwarming."

Famous songs from the musical are: "Let Me Entertain You," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Small World," and "Some People."

"As soon as we learned about the play, we immediately did research," said Hannah Zilber, a junior who will play Rose. "I bought all the CDs, DVDs and studied it all summer."

"This one IS the entire package," Zilber said. "It has good acting, it's funny and there's a range of emotions and motivations for all the major characters."

Want to go?

What  “Gypsy,” a musical with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Julie Styne

Who  Presented by the Western Branch High School drama department, under the direction of teacher Kay Sykes, with set designs by residential designer Sheri Blohm

When  7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20,  and Friday, Nov. 21.

Where  Western Branch High School auditorium, off Bruin Drive, Chesapeake

Tickets  $6, available at the box office

For more info  Call the school at 638-7900/7901.

Eric Feber, 222-5203, eric.feber@pilotonline.com By Eric Feber