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

Fri May 14 15:22:33 PDT 2010

I saw the show and enjoyed it.  I will note that the famous Jule Styne overture was not used at all which disappointed me, but I don't think Georgiann had the brass section to do the overture well.  If you don't, I guess you cut it rather than do it unsatisfactorily.  

Gypsy had a mixture of acting talent. The leads had a lot of experience and acquitted themselves well.  They've performed in semi-professional and professional venues and know what is expected.  I had worked in the past with two of the three strippers  and all three of them knew how to bring their song home.  The others in the cast did not have as much experience, and should be critiqued on a lesser standard since they are actors from the community who choose to act in a show for community spirit or simply for the reason of "Hey, Let's put on a show."  Or perhaps they're getting their sea legs in the craft and just starting out.

The arts are a fantastically democratic concept in this country where professionals can produce top notch art and local communities can produce the same show and have an entertaining time.  That's what great about our country and our area in particular.  We have enough opportunities on various levels of ability to either act in or patronize.  

Geoff and company created some enjoyable art during their run.  

Christopher Fortunato

Date: Fri, 14 May 2010 16:53:07 -0400
From: rhhawkes at gmail.com
To: vanbrujah at aol.com
CC: royberko at yahoo.com; neohiopal at listserve.com
Subject: Re: [NEohioPAL] Berko review: GYPSY (Brecksville Theatre on the Square)

My own experience is that I have seen brilliant acting in high school, college, community, serious amateur, semi-pro, and professional shows. I have seen wretched acting in high school, college, community, serious amateur, semi-pro, and professional shows. Generalizations about where we will and will not see the brilliance or the incompetence are not terribly dependable or useful. 

But in any case, once we put ourselves out there and charge money for a seat, we can only expect that folk will call 'em like they see 'em. 

RHH 

On Fri, May 14, 2010 at 1:52 PM, <vanbrujah at aol.com> wrote:

Rude, and incorrect.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan Bergeron <ryanbergeron at msn.com>
To: Roy Berko <royberko at yahoo.com>
Cc: NEOhioPerformingArts <neohiopal at listserve.com>
Sent: Fri, May 14, 2010 12:01 pm
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. 

Sent from my iPhone 

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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