Pajama Game Reviews- Page 3

[fflagg]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 8:11am

It is a good revival not a great revival. Without Harry the show would not run.

Sorry but Kelli is DULL!! She is yet another bland, pretty, perky, soulless Broadway B-level diva. [She and Sutton can do "Legends" in 50 years.] Janis Paige might not have been the best singer but she was lusty and gritty.

The show's book is paper-thin. While the score has many high points there are the low points including "Her Is" and the overly long and too cutesy "I'll Never Be Jealous Again". "Steam Heat" is ruined by a recast of who sings it now vs. who sang it in the original cast and also tinkering with the Fosse moves.

The musical highpoints are "Hernando" and the brooding, sexy "New Town Is a Blue Town".

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 8:24am

You have to be pretty uptight to care that Mae sings and dances "Steam Heat" instead of Gladys. The number is and has always been arbitrary, just like its sister number in Damn Yankees, "Who's Got the Pain?"

And I disagree with your opinion on "I'll Never Be Jealous Again". The Hines/Mabel soft-shoe dance is completely charming, just as it is in the movie version.

I'm also a huge fan of "Her Is". I love its off-kilter melody and pronoun-challenged lyrics. The one thing I missed in the Roundabout revival is the presence of a plump Mae for the reprise of "Her Is," so that the joke when Prez sings "But you have twice as much as the rest have" lands.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 8:40am

I realize ignorance is bliss but there are some plain awful reviews as well. Check on ATC. I guess since the GOD, Brantly says it's good, it just must be, but most people and reviewers aren't quite as fond of "bland and safe" as Brantly is. Sorry but I just don't get the appeal of Marshall's safe sterile work and don't get the appeal of O'Hara either. It must be what the other poster said. She appeals to the same people that Sutton Foster does to. I don't get it and believe me, I've tried.

Alice ripley would have killed in the role of Babe. There's nothing "strong" or urgent about O'hara or her performance.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 8:41am

Newsday's critic Linda Winter...what is she on?
I've only agreed with her once, but every decent show or even fantastic show that comes out, she has something to say about and this time she has called "The Pajama Game" "botched and bland." I'm not even gonna bother posting it.

[Esparzafan]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 8:54am

JV92, I was thinking the same thing.

[JerseyScoundrel]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:48am

WCBS loved the two leads. However, they thought the show was absolutley corny and that some of songs were not needed.

http://wcbstv.com/entertainment

Updated On: 2/24/06 at 09:48 AM

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 10:02am

Clive Barnes gives it a rave but the poor old dear gets his facts messed up:

Joyce Chittick is a knockout as his girl Mae, a plain Jane who doffs her specs — and skirt — to raise "Steam Heat."

Though it was originally danced by the boss' secretary Mabel, the new Mabel is now the handsomely statuesque Roz Ryan, who acts up a storm and sings but doesn't dance.

No Clive, it was originally danced by Gladys, who is the boss' secretary, not Mabel, who is SID'S secretary. The thought of lovely old Reta Shaw doing 'Steam Heat' alternately sends chills up my spine and sends me into paroxysms of laughter.

And speaking of Mabel, Roz Ryan does a very credible soft-shoe with Michael McKeon. What does he mean she doesn't dance?

Doesn't the old sot have a fact-checker?

[robbiej]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 10:45am

'She appeals to the same people that Sutton Foster does to.'

That's simply not entirely true. I've been a big fan of Ms. O'Hara's since seeing her as Christine in the Kopit-Yeston Phantom 8 years ago. A stunning voice and an actress with terrific depth.

It's Ms. Foster that I've never quite gotten. Perhaps that will change. I live in hope.

But, in generally, we shouldn't engrave SWEENEY's title on the revival Tony yet...right?

Posted: 2/24/06 at 10:55am

While I am pleased for The Pajama Game's hardworking cast, my initial reaction to Brantley's review was complete and utter surprise. It's certainly an enjoyable show, and I would agree that Harry and Kelli sizzle on stage probably more so than any other Broadway musical couple that I seen in recent memory, but it is fluff. At least that was my first thought. And then I considered that maybe I shouldn't dismiss it just because it is light-hearted and wholesome. Those types of shows should be evaluated on the same scale as everything else and not snubbed for being "outdated."

Thinking back to recent revivals that are generally viewed as hits, both with critics and audiences (e.g., Chicago (OBC), Cabaret (OBC) and Sweeney), I sense that many people are more appreciative of shows that reflect current media portrayals of sex, violence, crime, etc. The darker revivals that feature provocatively clad women and seedy crime scenes are typically the ones that generate raves. Good, old-fashioned, happy song and dance musicals seem to be placed at a disadvantage, which is a shame. If not for a big name like Harry Connick, Jr., I don't think The Pajama Game would be selling out every performance.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 10:57am

I'm glad the Circus Ponies are back, Robbie! It seems appropriate for the spring season.

Ultimately, the Best Revival Tony means very little at the box office. But things are a little more interesting in that race, at least.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 1:49pm

Interesting that this season's battle for the Musical Revival Tony are two Best Musical winning shows in their original runs and are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum artistically (I'm afraid I don't have high expectations for Threepenny, though hardcore theatre fanatics will rave regardless the production values). It's shaping up to be a very interesting season. Too bad there's no heady new musical this season for everyone to bemoan. I guess the Sweeney or Threepenny revivals will have to double for that role as well.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 2:18pm

I'm still surprised over the amount of shows this season so far that have received wonderful notices...usually there are only a few shows that get nearly across the board raves, but only half way through the season, we've already reached that.

Perhaps this spring will drag in all the clunkers...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 4:18pm

Just picked up my copy of the New York Times and the review is estatic.

I don't think I've ever read the word "erotic" used so often in a review before, though.

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 7:44pm

Wow. I might try to pop in and see this next week, now.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 7:54pm

Hushpuppy, I am still giggling from the thought of Reta Shaw in 'Steam Heat.'

Thank you. I needed that.