PARAGON NEWS UPDATE
Paragon is not closing but is on a temporary hiatus. To all of you we thank you for your continued patronage and ask that you visit our website frequently for updates during this hiatus.
As always you may contact us at info@paragonmusictheatre.org
GYPSY Review
Take a Bow, Paragon
- By Allie Hembree, Lexington Events Examiner
- May 14th, 2011 2:09 pm
The city of Lexington has a thriving art community, but it will soon become a “Small World” with one part of that community leaving. Paragon Music Theatre says farewell for now with their production of Gypsy, as the city of Cincinnati welcomes the great talent of Paragon’s, Ryan Shirar. Shirar is the Executive Director and Music Director of Paragon Music Theatre, and is taking the next big step in his life by accepting a full scholarship to The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Graduate School.
The two elements I noticed immediately were the lighting design (Tony Hardin) and costumes (Anita Shirar).Gypsy relies heavily on the use of lighting to assist in the story’s progression and Hardin’s design never disappointed. Anita Shirar and team (Joyce Anderson, Darlene Bhattacharyya, Millie Hamilton, Will Locke, Inez Petty, Jo Ann Spivey, Jackie Wilsun, and Marcia Zack) must also be recognized for their hard work on the striking costumes. There weren’t just a few good costumes; everything that appeared on that stage was impeccable. The number of costume changes and numerous details were certainly noted and must be applauded.
Act 1 begins with Baby June and Baby Louise being “encouraged” by their stage mother, Rose, who tells them time and time again they will one day become stars. I was impressed with Abby Quammen who portrayed the talented child star, Baby June with a bubbly attitude and non-stop smile on her face. Addyson Bell who played Baby Louise was a good balance to Quammen, as both young triple threats sang, danced and acted their way to become the older June and Louise.
Act 1 introduced us to many great songs, the stand out was “If Momma was Married” performed by June (Caroline Keegan) and Louise (Haley Fish). These two had such great chemistry, and even looked like sisters. Act 1 closes as June runs away with one of the boys for her show, Tulsa (Evan Pulliam) and leaves only Rose (Katie Owen), Rose’s boyfriend, Herbie (Tom Hayward) and Louise to continue on their own.
“Together, Wherever We Go” beings Act 2, and Fish begins to shine as Louise. The choreography (Diana Evans Pulliam) was fantastic throughout the entire show but shined in this song through Rose, Herbie and Louise’s playful energy.
As the trio continues in the world of show business they put a new act together called “Madame Rose’s Toreadorables”. One of the standouts from this group was Agnes (Cassie Schacht), who committed herself to this adorable role. The Toreadorables ended up landing in a burlesque house in Witchita, Kansas. From here, Louise becomes Gypsy Rose Lee, but not without some help from fellow strippers, Mazeppa (Pam McGary), Electra (Courtney Schuette) and Tessie Tura (Melissa Rae Wilkeson). McGary, Schuette and Wilkeson had the audience double over in laughter with “You Gotta Get A Gimmick”. Louise transforms into her fate as she fills in for a stripper as a last minute replacement. Louise finally has a gimmick, and she becomes a star. Herbie has left Rose at this point, for her decision to push Louise to become a stripper and Rose is left with only herself.
The energy in this show never dropped, which would have been easy to do, because of the intensity that is required from the very beginning. Owen carried the show through, just as Mama Rose would have and delivered every note and line with the drive that Rose possesses.
The orchestra did a wonderful job with the score, and had us hanging on to every note. The performance of Gypsy exceeded my expectations and I believe the audience would agree: Paragon Music Theatre, you will be missed.
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