←Recommendations of Fable

A snappily written play in conversation with the the musical GYPSY from the point of view of June. The script explores the ownership of truth and storytelling. The scenes each deliver history, heart and drama!

A haunting memory play, FABLE follows a faded star as she fights to keep her name and her story her own. There are hints that our narrator may be slightly unreliable, but as Ethel Merman eloquently tells us, "in the long run, none of us are gonna be remembered for who we really were, or who we thought we were. We’ll be lucky to be remembered at all. So who the hell cares what anybody thinks?" This is a beautiful story and I am so glad to have been able to be a witness to June's version of it.

"The real truth gets in the way of a good story. And that’s the truth." So much amazing dialogue throughout DeVita's epic, tour de force. The staging is also incredibly impressive, making creative use of actors and props with lighting, shadows and dance. Placards seamlessly move us from one location to the next and the story of these women is captivating and moving.

"None of us are gonna be remembered for who we really were, or who we thought we were. We’ll be lucky to be remembered at all." Nothing about this play is forgettable.

A look at what ultimately became the musical, Gypsy, through the eyes of June. We can see how a fable was created from truth via a fable! Fable ponders if the truth really matters. There are different responses to this question. A huge Gypsy fan, this resonated with me a lot. The carousel of sniping between mother, daughters and creators is the motor of the story. This would be a great companion to Gypsy or certainly an enlightening piece to accompany a biographical musical writing seminar. Mr. De Vita's knowledge of show biz brings this story to an entertaining life.

A haunted vaudevillian exploration of the true stories that were swiped, swirled and snipped into the musical Gypsy. Mr. DeVita is a master of style. Now I wish he'd direct his attention to Hamilton, which could equally benefit from revelations of truth.

FABLE is astounding in its artistry. I kept reading it, exclaiming "You can DO THAT in a play??!!" I was so sad to have it end. A longtime GYPSY fan, starting with when I played Dainty June myself in our high school production in NJ, I loved this tale of how the musical came about from June's perspective, and the price we pay with our private lives when we are public figures. Complicated mother-daughters dynamics and incisive portraits of Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents make for a compelling, totally human story that is riveting from first page to last.

What a pleasure it is to have June have her say. After seeing many productions of Gypsy, I always wanted more of June. What happened to the breadwinner of many years? DeVita does a stellar job of giving us June Havoc/Havick and the contentious relationship she had with Gypsy/Louise. Her fight for her say in how her life is portrayed resonates. We know the fable. DeVita gives us new perspective. A theatre would do well to stage this as a companion piece to Gypsy (using the same cast!). A talkback after would finally be illuminating.

I saw "Gypsy" years ago, but I was always more fascinated by June and the facets of her life. This play is like an answer to my prayers. It's a witty, sharp, and beautiful memory play that tugs at heartstrings and makes me grin like an idiot whenever Ethel takes the stage. Thank you Doug DeVita for bringing one of the most fascinating artists to brilliant life!

A wonderful tribute to an era of Broadway and more significantly to the women who dominated the stage with their talent, grit, and sheer force of personality. I knew little about the real June Havoc going in, but it doesn't matter as DeVita creates compelling characters who live on their own and inhabit a fully realized time and place that is such a delight to feel immersed in. The play moves between memories colored by fantasy without ever losing the reader, and DeVita's dialogue is consistently sharp. I look forward to further development of this play.

A legend may live on, but a fable has a lesson for us all. FABLE is a love song from Doug DeVita to the people who gave one of the greatest shows -- musical or otherwise -- and it teaches us is that even with harsh words, abuse, neglect, and self-doubt, there is a bond between them that is told in a way that touches us all. I loved remembering the story of "Gypsy," but more, I felt like I finally knew the people that made it come to life.