The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)
The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#0
Posted: 1/21/06 at 11:40amIt's a pretty good production that could get better.Rest easy as far as Kelli O'Hara is concerned for she does have the brass that Babe needs.She starts singing I'm Not At All In Love and I just started smiling.Harry Connick Jr. is a work in progress.Sometimes he seems to have no idea what to do with himself physically and seems more than a little stiff.At times he doesn't act the songs as much as croon them.But for me the biggest surprise of the evening was what Harry does the best , DANCE!! Harry must have always wanted to dance on Broadway because he is blissed out when he dances.When he starts singing Once A Year Day he's so intent and unsmiling it's kind of scary ,then he starts dancing and the smile never leaves his face.It's like watching Snoopy dance , there may have been technically better dancers on the stage but I couldn't take my eyes off Harry.His dancing is also wonderful in the best number of the show Hernandos Hideaway (and a big hats off to Megan Lawrence who kicks that song out of the ball park).Roz Ryan takes every line and song of Mabels and makes them gold.I thought the set was kind of garish and ,well, ugly but it didn't bother me much. I wish the orchestra were a little bigger but that's Roundabout. I was not impressed with the choreography with the big exception of Hernando's Hideaway which is musical theater bliss.The 3 new songs are fine but aren't quite on the level of the rest of the score.On the whole I had a very good time and believe Connick is just going to get better and better with time.And damn , just watch him dance!
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#1
Posted: 1/21/06 at 12:46pm
would it make sense to post reviews of this on the thread started for that reason.....instead of having three threads right now?
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?page=2&thread=883590&startthread=1799776
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#3
Posted: 1/21/06 at 10:21pm
I read that on ATC.
I am so happy Kelli is doing well!
Go girl!
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#4
Posted: 1/21/06 at 10:26pm
I had asked for a no spoilers review, that's why it was a separate thread.
Thank you, notabb. Great review, I appreciate it. I'm definitely going to check this show out! 
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/03
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#5
Posted: 1/21/06 at 10:34pmBIG kudos to Megan Lawrence..... she was amazing
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#6
Posted: 1/21/06 at 11:11pm
notabb, thanks for your review. I have my tickets!
And you have no reason to apologize, either.
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#7
Posted: 1/22/06 at 12:17am
Re the Pajama Game as of tonight's perf:
1. Harry rocks! Of course no guy looked like him in the 1950s but who cares. He will get a Tony nom and deserves it
2. This is the first time I saw Kelli. Ehhh. She is from the same school as Karen Ziemba: competent and boring. Not one pinch of star quality. She is too old but Rachel York would have been better. All Kelli is is blond and perky. If you are going to be PC and have color-blind casting you might as well as cast Audra as Babe. At least she has some oomph.
3. Cute-looking set and everyone seems happy.
4. Roz deserves a Tony for scene stealing.
5. The show is a standard 1950s musical comedy piece that is about 20 minutes too long. The new/cut songs do nothing to the show and should be removed. It also would not hurt to cut "I'll Never Be Jealous Again". It is a cute song but goes on far too long.
Question: why does the Gladys actress not perf "Steam Heat"?
Evoking the spirit of Madeline Kahn, she and Harry had more sexual chem in "Hideaway" than Harry and Kelli everywhere else.
As long as Harry and his bod are on stage the show will run.
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#8
Posted: 1/22/06 at 7:24am
I was at yesterday's matinee. The production is less than perfect, but very stellar nontheless.
Harry Connick isn't the best actor, but he looks the part and sings beautifully. His "Hey There" was gorgeous.
Any reservations I had about Kelli O'Hara as Babe were gone the moment she stepped on stage. She is perfection in the role.
The supporting cast, esp. professional showstopper Megan Lawrence, is superb from top to bottom.
Yesterday's matinee was sold out. This show is going to be a huge hit. I'd buy tickets now if I were you.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#9
Posted: 1/22/06 at 7:49am
The show is pretty much sold out through the run, according to the box office guy. The best availibility is Sunday night, as well as late May.
BTW - Harry's extremely nice at the stage door, although no pictures of him can be taken.
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#10
Posted: 1/22/06 at 7:52amA friend of mine used to work at the AA Theatre. I believe that the theatre itself has a strict no-picture policy at the stage door, no matter who or what show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#11
Posted: 1/22/06 at 8:10amI can understand that. Oddly, Harry was the 1st person I've seen at the AA Theater to use barracades at the stage door. There were none for After the Fall, 12 Angry Men, Constant Wife, or Naked Girl. Oh, and I'm not surprised that the rest of the cast has been instructed to exit on 42nd street, not 43rd.
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#12
Posted: 1/22/06 at 8:27amdon't apologize! Elphaba, you ARE a witch!
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#13
Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:19pmAfter seeing Harrys very developed chest I'm not surprised they have barricades at the stage door
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#14
Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:23pm
"Any reservations I had about Kelli O'Hara as Babe were gone the moment she stepped on stage. She is perfection in the role."
Thanks, MEF. That means a lot!
re: The Pajama Game - Friday night (no spoilers)#15
Posted: 1/22/06 at 3:25pm
All that stitching and button-sewing. . .
I hope they cut 20 minutes from the show; it is too long.
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