gypsy

Chris Knight's avatar

One of the audience members was overheard today saying that this production of Gypsy by Theatre Guild of Rockingham County is one of the best musicals she has ever seen around here. And apparently she wasn’t alone.

Last night’s performance played to an almost solidly sold-out house! And normally there’s a much smaller crowd for Sunday. Well, considering that this is a Super Bowl Sunday at that, I’d say it was about three-quarters full… which was impressive business.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Gypsy sold out for this coming Friday and Saturday. And who knows: maybe even the final performance next Sunday. ‘Twould be sweet!

So if this might be your first time enjoying the tale of the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee and her outrageous mother, or if you’ve seen the show many times (I met a lady today who saw the original Broadway run with Ethel Merman) you are ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

Just got back from Opening Night of Theatre Guild of Rockingham County‘s production of Gypsy and it was a scream! The house had a good crowd and everyone was laughing harder than I’ve seen in this county in a way long time!

I must admit: I wasn’t sure about being in this show at first. But now I’m glad that I’m doing it. This has been some of the most fun that I’ve had in quite awhile.

Well, can ya blame me?

Cigar (played by Yours Truly) and the talent of the Wichita House of Burlesque!
Left to Right: Tessie Tura (Ashley Pearson), Electra (Beverly Burke), and Mazeppa (Anne-Marie Castillo)

And here’s me in my Cigar getup holding the real star of the show: Tebow Wasmund!

Now, I can’t post any video from the show itself, ‘cuz that would be some bigtime copyright violation (and in spite of ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

He’s cheap! He’s sleazy! He’s loud!

He’s… Cigar!

Just got back from another technical rehearsal for Theatre Guild of Rockingham County‘s production of Gypsy. This was my first in costume as Cigar: the owner of the burlesque joint that Louise and her crazy mother (and Herbie, can’t forget poor Herbie) wind up at. And I am having a fantabulously great time in the role! Cigar is one of the most fun characters that I’ve played yet!

By the way, that entire costume is something that I put together. The fedora is one I’ve had for a few years now. And that bow-tie: I remembered that bow-tie very well ‘cuz for this fourth grade program we did at Community Baptist School many years ago, Dad for whatever reason thought it would be classy if I wore a bow-tie. That thing was positively humungous when I was nine years old! ...

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Y’know, it’s incorrect to refer to this ethnic group as “Gypsy”. The real term is “Romani”. The reason they got tagged with the name “Gypsy” is ‘cuz as they spread into Europe from their original home in the Indian subcontinent, the locals thought wrongly that they were Egyptian.

So don’t you think that “Roma Rose Lee” has a better ring to it? Or is that just me?

Well anyhoo…

Next Friday night, February 4th, is Opening Night for Theatre Guild of Rockingham County’s production of Gypsy! Rehearsals have been going great. Everyone was roaring with laughter last night during the run-through of “You Gotta Get A Gimmick”. And I am having an absolute blast playing Cigar. He is completely sleazy and, well I just can’t help but have fun with this character: he is the manager of a burlesque house, after all. Expect lots of yelling ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

Tonight we had the first “stumble-through” of Theatre Guild of Rockingham County‘s production of Gypsy. A stumble-through, I learned tonight, is an extreme “rough cut” of the show. Which I assume is like what the preview performances of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have been about so far… but without all the injuries.

So since getting involved with community theatre three years ago I have been, in chronological order: a biblical patriarch, an undertaker, a pirate, a firefighter, a Siamese court eunuch, a plainclothes detective, a firefighter again (both times for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever)…

…but only tonight did I discover that of the two roles that I’m playing in Gypsy, that the part of Cigar is, for all intents and purposes, the manager of a strip club.

(Somebody tell me HOW is it that we can do a show like this but we ...

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