BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller
Dateline: MARCH 1, 2006
THE PAJAMA GAME
Harry Connick, Jr., that handsome heartthrob with the Frank Sinatra pipes, jumps into a role tailored for a regular guy with a great voice and a killer keyboard sense. Co-starring with the adorable Kelli O'Hara—most recently seen in the Lincoln Center hit, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA—Connick joins a top-notch company in The Roundabout Theatre's revival of THE PAJAMA GAME.
Originally staged in 1954, THE PAJAMA GAME is the first of two hit shows from the composing team of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (the second: DAMN YANKEES in 1955) whose partnership came to an abrupt end as a result of Ross's untimely death at age 29. With songs such as "Steam Heat" and "Hey There," the works of this promising young duo have become time-honored staples of the American Songbook.
Directed by Kathleen Marshall with needle-point precision, THE PAJAMA GAME pops off the stage of the American Airlines Theatre with verve, color and electrifying energy. From the opening to scene to the final curtain, Marshall keeps the show moving like a well-oiled clock, allowing every element of this "Boy-Meets-Girl; Boy-Loses-Girl; Boy-Gets-Girl-Back" pattern to fall into place.
Adapted from Richard Bissell's novel, "7½ Cents," with a book by George Abbott and Bissell, THE PAJAMA GAME sets new man in town, Sid Sorokin (Connick), in a supervisory position at the Sleep Tite pajama factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Grievance committee head, Babe Williams (O'Hara), falls for the guy pretty quickly, but their budding romance gets wrinkled as they find themselves on opposing sides of a labor dispute.
Making his Broadway debut as a stage performer—he garnered a Tony nomination for his score of THOU SHALT NOT—Harry Connick, Jr., finds a snug fit in Sorokin. Capitalizing on his robust looks, powerful voice and dynamic skills at the keyboard, Marshall has made a few alterations to the text, resulting in a winning trifecta. Crooning such numbers as "A New Town Is a Blue Town" and "There Once Was a Man," Connick lulls the audience with his mellifluous sound and captivating style.
No longer the ingenue we know from SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Kelli O'Hara tackles a character who knows her assets as woman and can do battle with any man. With her pert looks and butter cream voice, O'Hara carries the show with a silky style. Playing opposite Connick, she provides a strong buttress to his star-turn and, consequently, makes her rising star glisten all the more brightly.
Featured player Roz Ryan sashays delightfully as Mabel, the savvy secretary. Joyce Chittick as Mae reaches a full boil in the sexy rendition of "Steam Heat." Michael McKeon garners above-the-title billing for the supporting role of Mr. Hasler and certainly gives it a star's turn. But, Megan Lawrence as the buttoned-up Gladys steals the show as she strips off a few layers in the raucous staging of "Hernando's Hideaway", a moment that is surely to linger in the minds of Tony-voters come nomination time.
This Roundabout revival breathes a new life into an old show by paying respect to the genre with dynamic casting and a superior creative team. Set designs by Derek McLane provide a cheerful environment for such frolicking. Costumes by Martin Pakledinaz capture the carefree 50s panache, glowingly adorned by Peter Kaczorowski's lighting. THE PAJAMA GAME, a good deal more than 7Ohm cents worth of entertainment.