Gypsy, Savoy Theatre *****

This is the funniest, most distressing, most beautiful and overall the best musical anyone could ever see ever. The story is Shakespearian in nature, with a tragic yet triumphant lead in Mama Rose. The music is wrenched from Jule Styne's heart with lyrics from Sondheim which left me in floods by the interval. The show hinges on it's Rose and Imelda Staunton secures this production it's place in musical history. She is electrifying. You hate her; you love her; you leap for joy at her triumphs; you despair at her self inflicted tragedies. Her two big numbers at the end of each Act shows a human being, combining every possible emotion and leaves you conflicted on whether her actions are egoistic or altruistic (thank you Tom Stoppard). Lara Pulver is magnetic as Staunton's ignored child with an innocence which is slowly lost throughout the play as Rose loses her grip. Davison, the second doctor I have seen in two days, makes a wonderful debut in the role, being new to the Chichester production. Kent's direction, as with Todd and Tosca, flawless. Anthony Ward's designs are wonderful in adding pizzazz whilst keeping true to old Vaudevillian acts and is perfectly complimented by Ian William Galloway's video designs which work exquisitely where many video designs in previous  shows where they seemed disjointed. Every aspect of this production is more than perfect and that last shot of the piece is something that will remain with me for a very long time. To top this all off, singing Happy Birthday to Sondheim, who was in the auditorium, at the end, the opening night of this revival is the most magical evening I have ever had.