Inside Gypsy with WISTA's Joy Kertland

Have a Goldstone, Mr. Eggroll
Gypsy takes you in all sorts of musical directions
by Joy Kertland (Musical Director)

What is it about the musical theatre production of GYPSY that would interest WISTA’S artistic team?  IT’S DRAMA!  Eager for new and exciting challenges after the wildly pink romp that was LEGALLY BLONDE in February, WISTA has taken on the extraordinary task of producing one of the greatest American book musicals of the 20th century.  GYPSY is loosely based on the memoires of Gypsy Rose Lee, the infamous striptease artist.  The story is focused on Rose, the ultimate stage mother, and follows their path through life’s ups and downs, trying to make it big on the Vaudeville stage at the time of huge changes in the entertainment industry brought on by the Great Depression and the rise of “talking films”.  Critics agree that GYPSY is one of the best musicals, and more specifically that the character of Rose is one of the few truly complex characters in this genre. 

Gypsy is more than your average musical theatre experience:  you burst out laughing with the ridiculousness of it all, and within minutes you are shocked and devastated by a heartfelt expression of rage and pain.

As a Musical Director on her 15th musical production, I am accustomed to working on big bright ensemble numbers, with a few duets and dramatic love songs thrown in for good measure.  Artistically speaking, with the American musical we often find ourselves on the lighter side of character, content, music, and dance.  Gypsy is a complete reversal, and compelling exercise in subtlety and drama.  With few big ensemble musical numbers and a large number of solo performances it sounded like a walk in the park after the wild and crazy 5 part harmony highly energized song and dance numbers we had been performing recently.  What I learned very quickly, and became REALLY excited about was the underlying emotion, and conflict in almost every song.  With Gypsy, nothing is exactly as it appears to be. Musically the song goes in one direction, lyrically another and most often, within the context of the scene and the performance of the actor there is yet another layer for the subconscious mind to take in.  The complexity surrounding each piece is astounding.  As an audience we get to experience Rose almost like we are part of her extended family.  As a musician and music educator it is a challenge and an absolute delight to be working towards delivering a deeply emotional and authentic musical performance.  

Gypsy is more than your average musical theatre experience:  you burst out laughing with the ridiculousness of it all, and within minutes you are shocked and devastated by a heartfelt expression of rage and pain.  Just like real life, and just like real people, we can relate to Rose. She is driven by love and all the other bits and pieces of heartbreak that shape a person over time.  The characters in this play will certainly remind you of people in your own life by the time the 2.5 hours are over.  Wouldn’t you like to discover who those people are?

GYPSY, performing on June 7, 8, 14, 15 at 8pm and matinee performance on the 15 at 2pm, at the newly renovated THÉÂTRE LINDSAY PLACE THEATRE , 111 Broadview, Pointe Claire, Quebec, H9R3Z4.

www.wista.ca/tickets