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Show Signpost Tuesday, 22 July 1986 5 Mama and her daushtprc - dream of fame and fortune Tanja Schaffer Arts and Entertainment Editor What a real "go getter," that Mama Rose. She had a dream and the guts to go with it! Stage mother, Rose (played by Susan Mc Mahon), is stormy and unconquerable. She believes that it's only okay to stay home if a person doesn't know he's alive. In the musical hit, Gypsy, presented by the Utah Musical Theatre at Weber State College, two sisters (Wendy Baila as Louise (Gypsy) and Kay Giles as June), are driven by their determined "Mama Rose" to reach stardom. The stage is set with scenes and costumes from the 1920's-30's: a time when the country was going crazy over Shirley Temple and Judy Garland. (Vaudeville was on its way out as the 30's unfolded and movies were becoming the rage.) Somewhat resembling the character roles in the story of Cinderella, Baby Louise is seen as an ugly duckling through mama's eyes, while Baby June is seen as the star. From their home town of Seattle, they leave to wander across the entire country in search of the "big booking" that will lead them to fame and fortune. The vaudeville act that they use in all their auditions remains unchanged for years. Baby Louise is always consigned to play as one of the "newsboys" and in later years becomes the mainstay under a cow costume. With a grandiose introduction from her sister and three boys, Baby Jane emerges on stage wearing pink baby doll dresses and pink bows in her blonde curls. In a syrupy sweet tone of voice, she shouts out to the audience, "Hello ladies and gentlemen!" She points to herself and then to the crowd, "My name is Baby Jane. What's yours?!" She begins dancing: heel, toe, step; heel, toe, step. "Let me entertain you!" she sings as she pokes dimples into her cheeks with her finger. In mama's eyes, they'll never grow up. As the years go by, it's discovered that none of the kids are aware of their own exact age. Ten candles decorate every birthday cake of each adolescent, year after year. One night, on her birthday, Louise (who appears now to be about 18 years old), cuddles several stuffed animals and sings, "I wonder how old I am." Things start to change dramatically once June is given the opportunity to become a star. When Louise is the last one to stick by her mother's side, Mama Rose begins to realize how sadly she has neglected her "little Gypsy." Her Baby Louise always read the future positively, in spite of the lack of attention she received through her life. And mama apologizes to her emphatically. "I'll make it all up to you, baby," she cries, "I promise!" Gypsy, a musical fable, is the true story of the ultimate stage mother, Mama Rose, and her two daughters-June, who went on to become actress June Havor; and Louise, better known as show business legend Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy once described her mother as "charming, courageous, resourceful and ambitious. She was also, in a way, ruthless." Mama Rose was, in her own words, a jungle mother. "God will protect us," ttust ra" ; - 5 1 f ' ' ' ' , 1 r. , : j ' . , ' - -.) "LET ME ENTERTAIN you," offers a sultry Wendy she often said to her daughters. "But to make sure," she would add, "carry a heavy club." As for the incomparable Gypsy, actress Whoopi Goldberg summed her up best: "Gypsy Rose Lee was a true artist who combined unrelated traditions of entertainment into a totally new form that, ever so gracefully, forced her audiences to re-examine their assumptions of high-brow and low-brow. Received by kings, queens and presidents, Gypsy Baila as Gypsy Rose Lee, in Gypsy. proved that no matter what you do, as long as you do it with class and style, it's acceptable in this up-tight world." Gypsy, one of the best-loved musical arrangements ever, will run July 23-26 in the Allred Theatre of the Val A. Browning Center. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. with a matinee on the 26th at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the WSC box office and at all Datatix locations. Girls compete for queen title in Miss Teen pageant Tanja Schaffer Arts and Entertainment Editor In a colorful line of young girls is a tomorrow of journalists, musicians, and teachers. Each one has a full host of ambitions and most important, the drive to fulfill them. From state line to state line, each city brought forth its own blossom to compete in the Miss Utah Teen Pageant 1986. Each girl was proud to be able to unite with the others in order to ac quaint herself with the others. On Saturday evening, July 19, this annual event took place. The Austad Auditorium in the Val A. Browning Center set the stage for these young girls to display their poise and talent before a crowd and four judges. Most of the talents presented were piano solos, singing, and dances. These were judged on technique (how well it was polished), interpretation (the girls' own 'touch'), artistic approach (difficulty and how it was handled), and choice of music (appropriateness). -V j?i K:-r &1K 1 -'fnl .'. ri? " WINNERS of the 1986 Miss Teen pageanl pose for pictures. (Signpost photo: Tanja Schaffer) Another talent choice was speech. Judging emphasis was on originality, correct grammar and poise. In the formal presentation (gowns), each girl was judged according to the way she projected herself on stage. The way she wore her make-up was also a determining factor in her score it had to 'fit' with her age. On the day of the pageant, each girl was given an interview with the judges so they could witness her personality and get to know her a little better. Her scholastic achievements were judged in advance from a paper she had listed them on. The winners included the following: fourth runner-up Michelle Nordenstrom (Sunset), third runner-up Dawn Marie Jensen (Brigham City), second runner-up Jennifer Gammell (Mapleton), first runner-up Valerie Cooper (Providence), and Miss Utah Teen 1986 Patricia Ann Bonney (Midvale). Other awards were given in addition: Miss Congeniality Heather Sharp (Salt Lake City), March of Dimes award Patty Hardy (West Jordan), Volunteer service work Jennifer Gamel (Mapleton), Scholastic award Michelle Nordenstrom (Sunset), Talent Patricia Ann Bonney (Midvale), Interview Patricia Ann Bonney, Formal Presentation (gowns) Dawn Marie Jensen (Brigham City), Miss Photogenic Trisha Naomi Packard (Moab). Each year, the March of Dimes organization plays a big part in the Miss Teen pageant. This year the girls presented a sum of $502.87 for its fund. Last year, the national queens alone raised a total of $98,000 to the March of Dimes! Phyllis Ross, state director of the Utah Miss Teen pageant, has been director since its inception seven years ago. She lives in Oregon and is responsible for producing the pageant in Utah and in 12 other states. She has also served as president of the National Corporation and is currently on the Board of Directors.In a brief speech she gave before Utah Miss Teen 1986 was announced, she said, "I dare each of you to be risk takers to become a better person. T'ie risk of defeat is also the risk oT success." |