[NEohioPAL] Berko review: GYPSY (Brecksville Theatre on the Square)

Fri May 14 10:55:45 PDT 2010

> From: ryanbergeron at msn.com
> To: royberko at yahoo.com
> Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 12:01:18 -0400
> CC: neohiopal at listserve.com
> Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL] Berko review: GYPSY (Brecksville Theatre on the Square)
> 
> "but this is community theatre, and that means the quality of the 
> talent can’t be expected to be consistently top drawer."
> 
> Wow. That's rude.
> 

Ryan,

Perhaps you should cut him some slack?  You can't expect the quality of a review from a community paper and online "critic" to be consitently top drawer you know.  It isn't like it was a review from a real paper (which is still equally useless in the grand scheme of things, I know, but still....).  So be nice. 

> On May 14, 2010, at 10:13 AM, Roy Berko <royberko at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Brecksville’s ‘GYPSY’ exceeds expectations
> >
> > Roy Berko
> >
> > (Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
> >
> > --THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
> >
> > Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News Times--Olmsted- 
> > Fairview Times
> >
> > --COOLCLEVELAND.COM—
> >
> > ‘GYPSY’ by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents, is 
> > a musical theatre classic. It is based on Gypsy the memoirs of Gyp 
> > sy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist and her relationship with 
> > her mother, Rose, the aggressive show business mother, who appears t 
> > o be using her daughters to achieve what she never could. In spite 
> > of, or maybe because of Rose, Gypsy became a star, and sister June H 
> > avoc also achieved acting fame.
> >
> > I normally don’t review community theatre shows, but I made an excep 
> > tion when I found out that Monica Olejko was coming out of a self-im 
> > posed retirement to star as Mama Rose in Brecksville Theatre on the 
> > Square’s ‘GYPSY. ‘
> >
> > I was not disappointed. In fact, the production turned out to be 
> > much better than I anticipated. Olejko controls a stage. When she’ 
> > s on, all eyes are on her. It’s not that she is a scene stealer, it 
> > ’s just that she is so talented that almost all her moves are right 
> > on point. Her versions of “Some People,” “Mr. Goldstone” and 
> > “Everything’s Comin’ Up Roses,” were all excellent. Her 
> > verbal and physical attack of “Rose’s Turn,” often called 
> > Rose’s Lament, was strong and clearly developed the message of 
> > Rose’s understanding of why she pushed her daughters to be what she 
> > couldn’t be. Wow!
> >
> > Robb Gibb was excellent as Herbie. “You’ll Never Get Away From 
> > Me,” his duet
> > With Rose, was delightful.
> >
> > Bridget Chebo was exceptional as Louise. She has an excellent voice 
> > and much stage presence.
> >
> > A strong performance was turned in by Shane Joseph Siniscalchi as 
> > Tulsa.
> >
> > Heather Hersh, Jeanette Stack Luli, Kimberly Bush, and the audience, 
> > had a wonderful time during the trio’s bump and grind routine, 
> > “You Gotta Get A Gimmick.”
> >
> > Musical director Georgiann Bodle did an excellent job of making sure 
> > her musicians backed up, rather than overpowered the singers.
> >
> > Director Geoffrey Short kept the show well paced. It would have 
> > been nice if he could have worked with some of the support cast to 
> > develop clearer and consistent characterizations, but this is 
> > community theatre, and that means the quality of the talent can’t be 
> > expected to be consistently top drawer.
> >
> > ‘CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: Thanks to Monica Olejko, Rob Gibb and Bridget 
> > Chebo , Brecksville Theatre on the Square’s ‘GYPSY’ was better 
> > than most community theatre productions of this show. Nice job!
> >
> > The show continues at Brecksville Theatre on the Square in the 
> > Brecksville Old Town Hall through May 16. Call 440-526-3443 for 
> > tickets.
> >
> > Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 
> > through 2010, as well as his consulting and publications 
> > information, can be found at http://royberko.info
> >
> > His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal 
> > (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/ 
> > listinfo/neohiopal.)
> > Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 
> > through 2010, as well as his consulting and publications 
> > information, can be found at http://royberko.info
> >
> > His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal 
> > (to subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/ 
> > listinfo/neohiopal.)
> >
> >
> >
> >
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