THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607160144
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 76 lines
``Gypsy'' belongs to the ladies.
The musical, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, tells how Rose, the archetypical stage mother, vicariously manages the careers of her daughters, June and Louise.
When June escapes into marriage, she concentrates on Louise, who goes on to become the celebrated burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, eclipsing her mother in the process.
But when the curtain goes up Friday night on the Commonwealth Musical Stage's production of ``Gypsy,'' Norfolk resident Matt Meyer, in the baritone role of Herbie, Rose's romantic interest, will offer an interpretation that provides a masculine counterpoint to the show.
``It's a wonderful tale of a genuinely wonderful person,'' Meyer says of his character. ``Rose is trying to get an agent. Herbie is a candy salesman who used to be an agent. What he wants is someone to come home to. He's looking for a wife and finds Rose. He falls so head over heels in love, he becomes an agent again, doing exactly what he said he'd never do again, for her.''
It's not uncommon, Meyer says, to find Herbie portrayed as a bland and colorless character. But, he adds, that would be a mistake. It is frequently played by an older actor. But in CMS' production, producer Jeff Meredith and director Derek McKinney wanted to play up the romantic element.
``I told them, `I'm a character actor. I can play it older,' '' Meyer recalls. ``They said, `No, that's not why we picked you.' ''
Meyer, a classically trained singer and actor, finds the role interesting for a number of reasons. It started out, in the original production, he explains, as a non-singing role, because the first actor cast in the part couldn't sing. The part does have plenty of lines, occurring in practically every scene.
``It's a great show,'' Meyer says. ``At first, I didn't know that much about it. I heard it was about a stripper. But that's not what it is at all. It's a wonderful coming of age story, for both Rose and Louise.''
The son of a career Marine sergeant, Meyer began acting in high school in St. Louis, Mo. For a while, he contemplated going to the Naval Academy. But an opportunity to fill in for a friend at the International Thespian Festival, in Muncie, Ind., set him on a course that led to Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, where he earned his degree in theater performance.
He created the roles of Count Carl-Mangus in ``A Little Night Music'' and Pedro in ``Man of La Mancha'' at the Bob Hope Theatre in Dallas. Meyer was a featured soloist on A&E's Stephen Sondheim Tribute and played Bruce Gibson in PBS' production of ``Spiral Bound.'' He has played Fortinbras in Shakespeare's ``Hamlet'' and Jack in ``The Planet Me'' at the Greer Garson Theatre.
A director friend, working in Tidewater, invited him to appear in the Generic Theater's production of ``How I Got That Story.''
``I liked the area so much, I stayed,'' says Meyer, who has settled into a comfortable apartment in Ghent that he shares with Medea, a marmalade kitten who is a scene stealer in her own right. ``I had every intention of going to New York, to grad school at New York University.''
The detour has afforded Hampton Roads audiences the opportunity to see Meyer in CMS' productions of ``My Fair Lady'' and ``The Pirates of Pinzance.'' He recently filmed a TV commercial for Sentara Health System.
Meyer praises the good life Tidewater has to offer, although the Great White Way beckons. Acting in CMS' ``Gypsy,'' he points out, makes him eligible to join Actor's Equity. His next move, he hopes, will be to the Big Apple.
Meyer sees certain parallels between his own aspirations and those contained in the story line of ``Gypsy.''
``It's about the cost of following your dreams,'' he says. ``You should follow them, but you need to know the cost of them, and if you're willing to pay.''
``Gypsy'' will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m., Saturday, and 2 and 6 p.m., Sunday at the Pavilion Theater in Virginia Beach. For ticket information, call 340-5446 or Ticketmaster, or visit any branch of First Virginia Bank or the Pavilion box office. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DAWSON MILLS
Matt Meyer plays Herbie, Rose's romantic interest in the
Commonwealth Musical Stage production of ``Gypsy.'' by CNB