Heads would have rolled had Mama Rose been at Fountain Hills Community Theater’s opening of ‘‘Gypsy.’’

Fortunately, Rose is six feet under — heaven only knows where her soul is — so she couldn’t castigate the cast and crew for so many miscues.

On director Peter Hill’s part, it was the cast’s first night in the troupe’s new ‘‘improved’’ venue, a hop and skip from its former home in Fountain Hills’ community center. Judging from opening night’s many snafus, Hill could have used another month to smooth out the theater’s rough technical spots.

As it was, the crazy show has a memorable moment that will live in on in the annals of Fountain Hills’ 16-year-old community theater. When a phone that was supposed to ring didn’t, leading lady Val Stasik finally shouted, ‘‘RING! RING!’’ and then answered the darn thing so the musical could proceed.

Stasik’s quick thinking got the biggest, longest laugh of a long evening. It’s exactly something that Mama Rose would have done to keep the show moving at all costs. At that potentially paralyzing point, we realized Stasik had submerged herself into the world’s most famous and most demonized stage mother and one of musical theater’s most difficult roles.

For the most part, Stasik has a firm grip on Rose. That’s easier said than done, as she is one tough cookie. With two kids and an entourage of actors to house and feed on the vaudeville circuit, she has learned how to survive the hard way. Stasik effectively conveys Rose’s hard heart while showing the causes of her callousness. It’s the Depression. Vaudeville is waning. She’s a single mom. Men keep walking out on her — all but Herbie, a loyal supporter and would-be husband deftly done by Ross Collins. Although Mama Rose has no cause to be mean, you can understand why she’s so gruff.

Although the Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical title refers to World War II superstar stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, the story is really about her mom. Inspired by the success of Shirley Temple, Mrs. Rose was determined to turn her prettiest daughter into a star. So she lavishes attention on the gorgeous and talented June. Katie Conway does June as a child, with Chrissy Parker aptly taking on June as a headstrong teen with her own ideas about her career. (They worked — June would become film star June Havoc).

As Baby Louise, Rylee Kercher gets our sympathy early on as the Rose family workhorse. As the teen Louise, Ashley Shoemaker follows through admirably, making a convincing transition from a wallflower to a head-turner on the burlesque stage. The transformation from ugly duckling is complete when Shoemaker seduces the audience on the showstopping ‘‘Let Me Entertain You.’’

Speaking of entertaining ... ‘‘Gypsy’’ has one gimmick that never fails. That’s three strippers who teach Gypsy Rose Lee the tricks of their tawdry trade. As Tessie, Mazeppa and Electra, respectively, Hilary Hirsch, Laura Garger and Robin Conlin had first-nighters in stitches as they demonstrated their eye-popping bump-and-grind routines on the rousing ‘‘You Gotta Have a Gimmick.’’

Rose, of course, has the last word in ‘‘Gypsy.’’ On ‘‘Everything’s Coming Up Roses’’ and ‘‘Rose’s Turn,’’ Stasik pulls out all stops, exposing Mama Rose’s inner demons as well as Stasik’s sturdy vocals. With the leads’ game performances and Loren Chamberlain’s robust musical direction, you almost forget this ‘‘Gypsy’’ is covered head to toe in production problems. Almost ...

‘‘Gypsy’’
Who: Fountain Hills Community Theater
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Ends Feb. 16.
Where: Fountain Hills Community Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills
How much: $10-$15
Info:
Grade: B-