Locals set for theatre stardom

Oct 6 2010 by Jonathan Geddes, Rutherglen Reformer

FIVE local singers and dancers will get the chance to star in front of one of the world’s biggest theatre producers.

The upcoming Apollo Players’ production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable at the King’s Theatre will see legendary producer Sir Cameron McIntosh in attendance for one of the shows.

And there will be a quintet of local talent taking the chance to appear before one of the most influential and powerful producers in the theatre world.

Ten-year-old Varrie McElwaine, who is from Burnside and a pupil at St Mark’s Primary, will take the leading role of Baby June in the production.

Cambuslang boy Ross Cowan, 12, is also appearing in the show.

The Stonelaw High pupil has been cast in the role of Tulsa, one of the all-singing, all-dancing Newsboys.

Another Stonelaw High pupil, Jonathan Larkins, 14, will play the role of the Farmboy in a later sequence.

Also appearing is 17-year-old Kaitlin Cross, with the Stonelaw High pupil starring as Edna, one of the fabulous Hollywood Blondes, and also the part of Lola, one of the brilliant Minsky showgirls.

And Rosaleen Kelly, 32, will also be appearing, tackling the part of Gail, another member of the Hollywood Blondes.

The musical itself focuses on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous burlesque artist and the relationship with her domineering mother, Mama Rose.

Scots actress Terry Neason will tackle the lead role of Mama Rose.

Gypsy: A Musical Fable will be directed and choreographed by John Carlyle and feature a 60-strong cast.

John is eager to take on the production, which has been hailed as one of the best, and most complex American musicals.

He said: “It has been a dream in the making for me for the past 30 years to put on this show, which has only been seen in Scotland once before, in 1979 when my mother Dixie Carr played the demanding lead role of Mama Rose.

“We have a brilliant cast, who have been rehearsing tirelessly, and it promises to be a quite stunning production.”

The production will be performed every evening at 7.30pm from October 25 to October 30, with matinees on both the Wednesday and the Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets are priced from £7 to £10, and can be bought from the Apollo Players themselves on 07538 681101 or from the King’s on 0844 871 7648.