1. Gypsy

Gypsy is one of the greatest musicals of all time. Word from the bird, my friends, it is, featuring a great book complemented by a great score. Take any song out and it leaves a big gaping theatrical hole in the show. Even a seemingly silly list number like “Mr Goldstone” shifts the show dramatically. Without it, we’d never know how genuinely thrilled Rose and her cohorts are, nor would we gain the insight that we do into Rose’s personality and capabilities that the song reveals. “Together Wherever We Go” shows us how the relationship between Rose, Louise and Herbie has shifted since the end of the first act. “Little Lamb” tells us almost everything we need to know about Louise. The vaudeville numbers provide period, yes, but their design also tells us about Rose and their performance reveals insight into June and Louise that a conventional scene couldn’t convey. And then we get Rose’s trio of numbers: the seductive “Some People”, the chillingly ironic “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and the masterful “Rose’s Turn”. Every number has its purpose; there’s a perfect balance between the elements of musical theatre in this show. We could also get into the great “best Rose” debate, but that’s a no-brainer really: it’s Angela Lansbury, of course!

I hope you enjoyed reading through this list of five great musicals from the 1950s. What are some of your favourites? Share your thoughts using the comments box below. – DF