Revive PAL JOEY?

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 12:51pm

Last night, as I was rewatching the Bway special on 13, I kept wondering if 1 of my fav dancers, Noah Racey, could do the lead in PAL JOEY? I realize that it has been revived several times, but were these revivals satisfactory?

I also know that nice guy, Noah's most closely associated with Astaire, but I think it would be quite a coup for him to do a bang-up Joey, albeit a Gene Kelly role.

If the answer is yes, I'd pay to see a revival. And then, who to play Vera, Gladys and Linda?

Milla, Bewitched Updated On: 11/28/04 at 12:51 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 12:52pm

id see that, milla

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 12:56pm

Saw a very poor revival recently, there are so many better shows worth reviving.. really didn't like it.

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 1:10pm

Sorry that you saw such a poor production.

My interest in PAL JOEY was stirred by the dark story, the possibility for brilliant choreography & dancing, as well as the fabulous music & lyrics. In many ways, I feel that because of the story line and the ending (which is described as the 2 leads just walking off the stage at the same time in opposite directions), the show would have a better than good chance in the right hands.

Milla

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 1:16pm

An all-time great show, but it hasn't been revived successfully on Broadway in 50 years (the classic '52 version with Harold Lang, Vivienne Segal, Elaine Stritch et al ran for over a year; the '60s revival starring Bob Fosse and the 70s revival with Christopher Chadman both flopped). It's certainly due for a revival and given its dark, cynical story and characters , perhaps it'll find an audience this time considering how much tastes have changed in the last couple of decades (eg the recent revivals of Chicago and Cabaret are/were both more successful than the original runs of those shows -- I think audiences today are more willing to embrace darker material).

There was talk of bringing it back with Hugh Jackman at some point once he's fulfilled his many movie commitments, but I don't think that any of that went beyond the talking stage. Obviously if Jackman (or Banderas or other name of that stature) were interested, there wouldn't be any problem geting a revival off the ground.

Updated On: 11/28/04 at 01:16 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 2:04pm

Wait a minute....PAL JOEY was revived about 20 years ago at Circle In Te Square Uptown. The stars were SUPPOSED to be Edward Villella nd Eleanor Parker, but by th time it opened the stars were Joan Copeland and Christopher Chadman.

I'd love to see a revival with Patti LuPone and Patrick Wilson.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 3:25pm

The Chadman revival that I referred to was at Circle in the Square almost 30 years ago -- 1976. It only ran for 73 performances and that was the LAST time the show has been revived on Broadway.
http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3848

Updated On: 11/28/04 at 03:25 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 5:18pm

I saw the Chadman/Copeland revival and it was lackluster. Copeland was quite good, but it was Dixie Carter's rendition of "Zip" that stopped the show.

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 9:40pm

I don't mean to be disrespectful of Mr. Jackman's talents, because I certainly thought he moved well in OZ (& I don't know his dancing background), but if Hugh's hoofing capabilities aren't up to Joey's demands, I worry. There is no doubt that his name would be a huge draw.

From the dancing aspect & from the desire for a breakout show for Racey, if it's remounted, I hope the role goes to Noah. I just can't think of anyone else on the horizon who can do the dancing justice. But I am open to suggestions.

Milla

[Plum]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 10:16pm

Okay- my massive crush on the man aside, Jackman isn't a dancer. He's had straight theater training, and that's it. I was actually really surprised by how well he did with the choreography in The Boy From Oz, because he looked sort of awkward on the Oklahoma! DVD. He's never had to dance anything remotely like Pal Joey, so who knows? Maybe he can do it. I have no doubt that Racey could pull off the dancing. Whether he can carry a show charisma-wise is still sort of in question, especially because Joey's kind of a bastard. So either way, you have uncertainty.

Then, of course, there's the question we don't always like to ask- if you were a producer, would you rather put on a show with Hugh Jackman or Noah Racey as your headliner? Updated On: 11/28/04 at 10:16 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 10:56pm

As I said, the show has flopped each time it was revived since 1952. If the producers want a revival to to be successful, they better have a bigger name (and more charismatic star) than Noah Racey. Racey is certainly very talented, but "Never Gonna Dance" ran for less than two months and lost its entire investment. Let him head up the first national tour or something, but a Pal Joey revival on Broadway had BETTER star Jackman, Banderas or some other proven ticket seller or it'll never survive.

Sorry, but in the reality of today's Broadway, the ONLY way a revival of a 65 year old classic like Pal Joey is going to succeed is with a major star and a smart, innovative production helmed by a first rate director. Jackman dances well-enough for Joey -- he ain't John Selya but he'll do, and make sure a new generation of audiences will see how incredible a show that Pal Joey is.

Updated On: 11/28/04 at 10:56 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 11:29pm

NGD actually ran for two and a half months, not including 5 weeks of previews. Not trying to sound snippy, but I was involved with the production and know that everyone worked incredibly hard and don't want the cast and crew to get less than actual credit for time served.

Updated On: 11/28/04 at 11:29 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 11:43pm

Rathnait and I both know what NGD needed.... more Karen Ziemba!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/28/04 at 11:46pm

During rehearsals they added an entire number just for her, Jon.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 12:59am

Joey isn't simply a gigolo/stud--he's a punk, a "twerp" and not too bright. Hardly what Jackman or Banderas project (not too mention that they are pretty long in the tooth for the role). And Racey, despite his terpsichorean abilities, is just plain dull.

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 12:42pm

Another writer has raised excellent points regarding the fact that "Racey's too lean and lanky. Joey is supposed to be a 'half-pint imitation'. The role needs a Tom Cruise sort of cockiness. Hugh Jackman has the right look, attitude and abilities but again, he's a bit too powerfully built. [The writer thinks] it's important for an audience to be attracted to Joey for his looks and charm but at all times realize that he's still a small bug that Vera can easily squash (which of course she does by the end of the show). He's all bark, no bite."

The writer also suggested Michael Beresse.

Very interesing. I hadn't consider this before.

Milla

[Jon]

Posted: 11/29/04 at 7:31pm

Ten years ago, Scott Wise would have been perfect.