Village Theatre is presenting the world premiere of the new musical "The Gypsy King" on their mainstage. And while the show could do with a little tightening, it's a charming, witty and above all FUN throwback to the musicals of the 40's and 50's.
Originally presented at the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's (NAMT) New Works Festival in 2007 and then brought over by Village Theatre for workshops and early stagings as part of their Village Originals Festival of New Musicals in 2008 and 2009, the show has now landed on their mainstage much to the audiences delight. The show follows Frederick (played by Eric Ankrim) and his father Leo (John Patrick Lowrie), a father and son travelling acting duo who have stumbled into this sleepy little village on the day that the Princess Anisette (Katherine Strohmeier) is to be wed to the Prince Dijon, all due to the arrangement of her brother Prince Alfonse (also played by Ankrim). But when the Prince's Regent Sergei (Richard Ziman) notices the striking resemblance between Frederick and Prince Alfonse, he hatches a plan to swap out the Prince for the actor in an effort to kill the Prince and take over the throne with the help of his two bumbling assistants Gielgud and Godfried (Mark Carr and Nick DeSantis). Confused? Don't worry, they explain it all in the end ... and the middle ... and the beginning. As Alfonse himself says (or was it Frederick?), "Wow, that's a lot of exposition!"
While newer style musicals like "Next to Normal", "Spring Awakening" and "Passing Strange" are all the rage and a welcome addition to the American Musical canon, it's nice to see that there's still room for a good old fashioned romp with very traditional old style Broadway songs. While watching the show I kept thinking, "Am I watching a lost Cole Porter show?" No, composer, lyricist and book writer Randy Rogel and director Richard Gray didn't find some lost Porter gem, but you can definitely see the late great Porter's influences throughout. There are plenty of list songs, patter songs and tongue in cheek to keep even the most diehard musical theater fan's toes a tappin'. The entire show has a very vaudevillian feel to it and director Gray and cast keep that sensibility going for most of the show. Like I said, it could do with a bit of tightening (for example the first fight scene seemed to be a bit chaotic and didn't really fit in this world they were trying to create).
But what is a frothy romp without the cast to back it up. Got 'em! Ankrim is superb in the dual role of Frederick and Alfonse. He manages to switch back and forth between his two very different personas with ease. And the wonderful bits of staging where both Frederick and Alfonse are on stage at the same time lend themselves perfectly to the sense of whimsy the show is trying to create. Kudos to Gray and fight choreographer Geoffrey Alm for pulling those off. You just have to see them to believe. But back to Ankrim. Beyond his amazing comic timing and characterizations, Ankrim has one of the most sublime voices I've heard. When he opened his mouth for his first solo, a wave of velvet smoothness poured forth that gave me chills. The man has the richest honey dripping from those vocal chords. But that doesn't mean he can't join in and harmonize with the rest. Especially when he's paired with the lovely Strohmaier. She's got the just right style and comedic sassiness to match Ankrim and a gorgeous voice to boot. And when the two of them sing together, well, the chemistry is spot on.
But Ankrim and Stohmaier are not the only stars here. The supporting cast (each of whom has their own little moment to shine) put on a great show as well. Ziman plays the Regent Sergei with such delicious viciousness that it's no wonder he seemed to relish in the fact that the audience playfully booed him during the curtain call. Joanne Klein and John Patrick Lowrie are delightful as Marie and Leo especially in their lamenting ode to "Marriage". Even the smallest turn managed to wow such as Jose J. Gonzales' brief scene as the foppish Prince Dijon. But I must single out the hysterical performances by Carr and DeSantis as the hapless henchmen Gielgud and Godfried. They're self congratulatory number "Ain't We Got Class" in Act Two practically stole the show.
Combined with vibrant costumes from Karen Ledger and stunning choreography from Kathryn Van Meter, "The Gypsy King" is sure to be the latest hit to emerge from Village Originals and should not be missed. So if you're a fan of the musicals of yesteryear or if you just love a good time, then call up your evil twin and make a date to catch this one. Unless you're the evil one?
