Gypsy– The Mill at Sonning,

Music: Jule Styne

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Book: Arthur Laurents, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee

Director and Choreography: Joseph Pitcher

That Gypsy Rose Lee was, for her time, the most famous burlesque dancer in the world and not one of the most famous murderers is a real testament to her strength of character. Based on her memoirs, Gypsy is the tale of her early years living life in the shadow of her prettier and more talented sister and her overbearing mother.

She was born Ellen June but renamed Louise when her younger, and prettier, sister came along and given her name. Her mother, Rose Thompson Hovick was a formidable but controlling and manipulative mother. A failed performer, her desires for stardom and success were forced upon her children, with the younger sister June (Marina Tavolieri) taking the spotlight and the less talented Louise in support.

The story follows Louise’s early life with her family travelling the country trying to get performing gigs on the Vaudeville circuit. Success is never found, the family fragments and ultimately Louise, in a moment of heart-breaking betrayal by her mother, finds herself stripping in a burlesque show.

It’s not long since Gypsy was garnering all sorts of plaudits in the West End and this production should see those cries of approval continuing. For this is a masterful production made better by the intimate setting of The Mill. This is probably as close as you can get to seeing a West End quality production in such close-up surroundings. And the result is spine-tingling.

Joseph Pitcher’s direction and choreography is perfect for the smaller stage and he deftly manages the cast of 19 through the two-and-half-hour production. Jule Styne’s music is, for the main, uplifting and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics are wonderfully witty.

Rebecca Thornhill is commanding as the overbearing mother, delivering a powerhouse note-perfect performance coupled with some wonderfully observed mannerisms that make her character jump to life with immense believability. However, it is the much more nuanced performance of Evelyn Hoskins as the less-loved wallflower Louise that gives the show its emotional heart. Her downtrodden character is frustratingly well-played. You want her, at the many times the opportunity arises, to stand up for herself, speak her mind or just scream out in anger. But she doesn’t. She toes the line and plays her part in the family. It’s a beautifully balanced performance that grows through the show.

The rest of the cast doesn’t disappoint either. Each delivers a note-, step-, word-perfect performance. The use of actors/musicians to bring part of the musicality to the stage performance brings a delightful energy to the stage and the younger children, playing the earlier years, set up the story and relationships beautifully.

Gypsy is a great musical and rarely fails to impress, but this production feels particularly special. The sheer quality of the performances and production is deeply engaging, and the closeness of the venue gives an intimacy that more regular theatres can never achieve. This is a show that every fan of musical theatre should run to see, and anyone with even a modicum of interest in theatre should add to their must-see list.

Runs until 15 July 2023. Note, all tickets include a 2-course meal