Director Sarah Crawford and the talented folks at Musical Theatre Heritage have done it again.

One might easily think that a "concert version" of a Broadway musical would be less satisfying than a fully mounted production, but in the case of "Gypsy: A Musical Fable," MTH offers up a thoroughly entertaining extravaganza.

The play, loosely based on the memoirs of famed burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee, covers the years that her family struggled for stage success during the heyday of vaudeville.

Debra Bluford was born to play Rose Hovick, the ultimate stage mother, whose pathological drive helped her daughters become show business stars. Bluford's remarkable performance is just one of the elements that make this show a resounding success.

The classic 1959 hit features a great score by composer Jule Styne and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents that has both humor and dramatic depth.

In "concert" form, the actors step up to script stands and deliver their lines and songs directly to the audience. Under Crawford's deft direction, there is still enough creative movement to retain visual interest.

The large, stellar ensemble features the splendid Vanessa Severo as Louise, a shy and awkward adolescent who evolves into burlesque superstar Gypsy Rose Lee.

Severo manages to mine moments of poignancy from the comic proceedings, particularly during the touching number "Little Lamb."

Kip Niven hits all the right notes as Herbie, a struggling theatrical agent and Rose's paramour. Molly Denninghoff is also memorable as June, the "talented" daughter who enjoyed some initial success on the vaudeville circuit.

Indeed, all of the supporting cast members are excellent.

Sam Cordes does a nice job with the swinging tune "All I Really Need is the Girl." Allison Moody, Kenzie West and David Ollington each get a chance to shine as strippers in the hilarious number "You Gotta Get a Gimmick."

Young Maycee Steele and Aryn Christian are also fine as the childhood versions of June and Louise, respectively.

The small orchestra, under pianist/conductor Jeremy Watson, manages to put out a powerful sound.

"Gypsy" serves as a potent salute to showbiz gumption as well as a cautionary tale about obsession and narcissism. The fact that it presents these themes in such a thoroughly engaging package is a tribute to everyone involved.

The opening number of "Gypsy" is "Let Me Entertain You," and the MTH production more than lives up to that promise.

"Gypsy" runs through May 29 at the Off Center Theatre in Crown Center, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Information is available at www.musical theaterheritage.com or by calling (816) 221-6987.

THE 39 STEPS

Those familiar with the famed Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller "The 39 Steps" might be surprised to learn that the rendition presented by the American Heartland Theatre is a comedy.

The AHT's cheeky production is true to the vision of Patrick Barlow, who adapted the stage version from John Buchan's novel and Hitchcock's 1935 film.

While the story and dialogue are true to the movie, it's the treatment that transforms it from a taut, tension-filled melodrama into an over-the-top farce.

Barlow's aim is to create a send-up of (and homage to) theatrical conventions. We're invited to laugh at the absurdities involved in mounting this kind of production, and laugh we do.

Four actors portray dozens of characters. John Wilson is the only one to play a single role, that of a debonair Brit named Richard Hannay.

Hannay is falsely suspected of murder when a woman to whom he gave temporary shelter is found stabbed to death in his flat. He goes on the run from the police and inadvertently uncovers a foreign spy ring.

Emily Peterson is very appealing, playing three roles; a femme fatale, a naive farmer's wife and a beautiful stranger Richard meets on a train.

Jerry Jay Cranford and Doogin Brown do the yeomen's work, handling all of the other parts, including policemen, spies, music hall performers, train conductors, farmers and even an occasional female character.

Much of the humor derives from the lightning fast character changes these actors undergo. Sometimes a fraction of a second and a switch of a hat is all they have to slip from one role to another.

Creatively employing minimal sets and props, director William J. Christie and his intrepid cast members create all of the scenery they need.

Hitchcock fans will enjoy the not-so-subtle references to other of the suspense master's films, including "The Birds," "North by Northwest," "Rear Window" and "Vertigo." Christie employs music and lighting cues to enhance those jokey allusions.

Although it's little more than theatrical tomfoolery, "The 39 Steps" is a skillfully executed diversion.

"The 39 Steps" runs through June 19 at the American Heartland Theatre, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Information is available by calling (816) 842-9999 or at www.ahtkc.com.