Company member and education director of Cumberland County Playhouse takes on role of lifetime in iconic musical
A 35-member ensemble cast from the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee, performed “Gypsy” on Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Since July 18, Weslie Webster has played the main character of Mama Rose, a show business mother willing to do anything to make stars out of her daughters. DeAnna Etchison is Rose’s shy daughter Louise who, in a desperate moment to provide for her family and win her mother’s approval, takes a job as a burlesque dancer. In time, Louise becomes the famous Gypsy Rose Lee. Jason Ross plays Herbie, a former agent who Rose talks into managing her daughters’ act and who falls in love with Rose.
“[Being in the play] has been rewarding,” Webster said. “It’s the best musical. Lots of people say this is the best musical ever written just because the story is amazing. It’s real. It’s gritty. … It’s one of the biggest roles I’ve ever done.”
Clive Barnes, a theater and dance critic for “The New York Times” is often quoted from his review of the 1974 ‘Gypsy’ revival in promotional materials for theaters across the country: “‘Gypsy’ is one of the best of musicals and it improves with keeping.” He also called it “a musical to think about, ponder and love.”
Barnes also wrote, “Everything about ‘Gypsy’ is right. The Jule Styne score has a lilt and a surprise to it. The music bounces out of the pit, assertive, confident and cocky, and has a love affair with Stephen Sondheim’s elegantly paced, daringly phrased lyrics. And then there is the book by Arthur Laurents.”
“Lots of songs. A lot of monologues,” Webster said. “You just don’t find that in modern mainstream musicals very often. It’s different. The structure’s different. It’s rewarding, and it’s stressful and it’s amazing. I’m proud that we got to do it here.”
In a video interview posted on the playhouse’s Facebook page, Webster said that, regardless of how each “iconic” actress has portrayed Rose, they all have the common element of passion for the character. She also talked about the enthusiasm of the rest of the cast and how supportive they have been to her throughout this project.
Weslie Webster interviewed about ‘Gypsy’ (Aug. 13, 2014)
Webster said that her parents drove from North Carolina in August to see her perform this role. She added, “After I bowed I asked the audience to bear with me a second because my mommy was in the audience and because [the play] is about mother-daughter relationships. I wanted to thank my parents for allowing me to do this and always being supportive. It was special.”
Sally English, a member of the playhouse board, volunteered as an usher at this performance. She said, “Every year, I think they can’t top what they’ve done before, and then they do it again. Everything here is so good—so good.”
The play included many well-known songs: “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Together Wherever We Go” and “Rose’s Turn.”
From start to finish, the audience responded enthusiastically to ‘Gypsy’ with open laughter, groans of shock at Rose’s behavior and, finally, a standing ovation for Webster, Etchison and Ross during the curtain call.
The last performances for “Gypsy” are on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 2:30 p.m. and on Friday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be ordered on the Cumberland County Playhouse website, or by calling the box office at 931-484-5000.