Entertainment

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Sunday, Jun. 26, 2005

Texas Star Theatre presents GYPSY

STAR-TELEGRAM/JOYCE MARSHALL

Cindy Benson stars as Rose in Texas Star Theatre’s first full production, Gypsy.

KICKING IT UP A NOTCH

‘Gypsy’ proves theater’s new staff has what it takes

By Mark Lowry

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

GRANBURY – It’s officially time to squelch the rumor around town about whether the new, large staff of Texas Star Theatre — the producing organization at the Granbury Opera House — has what it takes to bring the artistic level up a notch. Make that several lengths.

The answer is most definitely, as witnessed by its first full production, the Laurents/Styne/Sondheim musical masterpiece Gypsy. It’s clear that TST’s leader, Thomas Morrissey, is a man with the vision that goes beyond simply staging a show. He puts his stamp on it, making a compelling case for its revival.

Gypsy is the ultimate showbiz fable, and Morrissey’s portrait of that world ain’t pretty. The bare brick backstage wall is always visible, as is the artifice of it all, from the clever device of using onstage performers to scroll a background landscape behind Rose’s car, to exposing the “Act 2, Scene 5″ marker on the rolling set of Louise’s posh dressing room.

Morrissey’s biggest coup, though, is bringing in New York/L.A. actor Cindy Benson to portray Rose, the infamous stage mother who refuses to believe that vaudeville is dead. Hers is a different Rose than the Ethel Merman/Rosalind Russell mold some might consider definitive.

Benson’s version is best summed up in her reply to Herbie (Michael Kostroff), when he asks whether her act is any good. “It’s great,” she says, not as a reactive affirmation, but with the kind of confidence that comes with a hint of doubt. Benson doesn’t rush and yell about the stage, as other Roses would. She’s still tyrannical to a degree, as Rose must be, but in a more driven way. She’s a hard worker who honestly wants the best for her daughters. She also has the vocal chops: Her Rose’s Turn finale is emotionally breathtaking.

There are many other fine turns, including Kostroff and a very natural Brittany Bailey as grown-up Louise. Ashton Smalling’s Baby June is so good it’s frightening (she alternates that role with Kathryn Priest). And there’s a priceless trio of washed-up burlesque performers in Pam Pendleton, Allison Heyman and Marissa Rosen.

Gypsy marks an important transition for Granbury.

Gypsy

• Through July 24; 2 and 8 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Sundays

• Texas Star Theatre at the Granbury Opera House, 133 E. Pearl St., Granbury

• $10-$36

• (866) 572-0881

• www.texasstartheatre.org

GRADE: A-

At top, Jennifer Matthews plays June, and Brittany Bailey, rear, is Louise. The production runs through July 24.

Mark Lowry, (817) 390-7747 mlowry@star-telegram.com