Gypsy at The Savoy Theatre, London.

The character I know Imelda Staunton best for is that of Dolores Umbridge; the pastel pink and privileged witch that takes over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry for a short time.
Her character was vindictive, manipulative and just down right mean. 

Her character in the musical Gypsy, which is currently running in London’s Savoy Theatre, couldn’t be more different. Spoiler Alert (so for those who like to be surprised skip down to the fifth paragraph) Staunton plays Rose, mother of two, who wont stop and can’t stop until her daughter Baby June is the star that Rose never was. When Baby June runs away from her Mother’s overbearing control, Rose turns to her other daughter Louise who has, all of her life, played second fiddle to Baby June’s limelight.

Time passes and eventually Louise finds something she loves to do that makes her happy and her mother, because it is not what she wants for Louise, isn’t happy. Rose realises that she has pushed her daughters away by forcing them to live their lives the way she would have if she could have - she lets Louise go. 

Louise, who now goes by the stage name Gypsy Rose-Lee, lives a successful life and is happy. Rose learns to be happy with her daughters success and also learns to focus on improving her own life.

Imelda Staunton leads an amazing cast in the revival of Gypsy, supported by Lara Pulver as Louise. I’m ashamed to say that I’m not caught on Imelda Staunton’s repertoire, but as I walked out  of the theatre after Saturday’s matinee, I made a mental note to IMDB Staunton’s career and sit through most if not all of them. She can act, I knew that - we all knew that. But, hell… she can sing. 

Imelda Staunton is phenomenal in Gypsy; her maniacal yet lovable Rose captures audiences attention from curtain-up. Obviously, Staunton is the star; the celebrity casting and she’s drawing audiences in. The theatre was full. However, as the show runs audiences learn it’s not just Imelda Staunton with some serious acting chops. 

Previously mentioned, Lara Pulver plays Louise and brings her from meek, badly coordinated, naive and easily mistaken for no more than seven or eight years old to the sexiest, sassiest, most grown up picture of elegance and class reminiscent of 50’s screen sirens meeting Dita Von Teese. 

Lara’s voice is perfect for the role and changes with Louise’s character in the most idyllic way, I couldn’t have cast Louise better. Although not in the spotlight until the very end, Lara’s Louise is magnetic and your eyes are simply drawn to her, wherever she is on the stage. Because I was so into Pulver as Louise, I didn’t realise until the interval where I recognised her from. Skimming the programme, I realised and it dawned on me like a penny dropping. Lara Pulver played Irene Adler/The Woman in the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. At the start of Gypsy, Louise’s character is at the other end of any spectrum that Irene Adler is on, by the end of the show - it’s easier to make the connection. 

The Savoy is a beautiful theatre, although unfortunately the front of house areas are very small - fill it with theatre goers and all their bags and it’s smaller still. This makes popping to the bathroom, the bar or for some air at the interval damn near impossible. The older gentleman who sat next to me in the theatre was lovely though, and he didn’t mind that I had many bags; he even asked about my purchases and praised me on my choices. 

For those who need more convincing, check out Imelda Staunton's rendition of Rose's Turn from the 2015 Gypsy Official Cast Recording. 

If you have a Saturday free, or any day of the week and you have the chance to go to the theatre   - see Gypsy. It’s a wonderful, toe-tapping, warming day out. Fun for all the family.
(Pictures Credited to Original Source - LoveTheatre.com)