The Pajama Game Review

The Pajama Game

Minerva Theatre, Chichester

Once again the Chichester Festival has started off with a bang with a production of a little-known musical, The Pajama Game. Based on Richard Bissell's novel, 7 1/2 cents, the musical is set in a small American town, where city-boy Sid Sorokin (Hadley Fraser) has come to work as superintendent in the local Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory. He falls in love with the leader of the Union Grievance Committee, Babe Williams (Joanna Riding), and though Babe rejects him at first their relationship gradually develops. However, Sid and Babe's relationship is jeapardized by a threatened union strike, led by Prez (Eugene McCoy), over a 7 1/2 cent pay rise.

Leading the cast are Hadley Fraser and Joanna Riding. Hadley stands out as the boyish but resolute and resourceful Sid Sorokin. His singing was fantastically grandiose and a highlight comes during the song Hey There (You with the Stars in your Eyes) in which he wistfully records himself singing his feelings for Babe on a dictaphone, before performing the second verse whilst playing the recording. Joanna Riding is the professional Union representative Babe Williams. She is indifferent to Sid's approaches at first, but she is bubbly and the developing relationship is charming to watch. If I do have an issue with it then it would be that Babe is the more mature of the two, and occasionally I felt like telling Sid to grow up.

There are some fantastic performances from the supporting cast as well. My favourite would be Peter Polycarpou as the factory's timekeeper, Vernon Hines. Strict and uptight with the workers, he shows how necessary it is to be punctual during Think of the Time I Save. He also has a neurotic side to his character, as he is always suspicious about his girlfriend, Gladys (Alexis Owen-Hobbs), is up to. During an hilarious I'll Never be Jealous Again, he is disciplined by Sid's secretary, Mabel (Claire Machin), to calm down and control his jealousy. Colin Stanton meanwhile plays the bullish manager of the factory, Hasler, who sees the workers as nothing but vermin.

A problem I do have with the musical is that it includes too many supporting characters. As a consequence two supporting characters, Gladys and Prez, are not given enough time on stage to sympathise with. Alexis Owen-Jones' Gladys is Hasler's hysterical secretary but flirtatious when off-duty. As Union President Prez, Eugene McCoy is a commanding leader, whilst being a nerd with a roving eye for every girl he sees. Yet lack of stage presence means that their stories are easily forgettable, until the musical decides to try and tie every plot thread into one big lump of misunderstandings in a Mexican restaurant scene. The scene just feels overloaded, especially when it goes on far too long.

However these issues can be overlooked because of some fun scenes and dance numbers. Because this production is in the Minerva Theatre the numbers feel intimate, which adds to the fun. From the word 'go' the ensemble rushes through the factory doors with sewing machine tables and show the fast and systematic routine of churning out pajamas as they sing Racing with the Clock. During the annual company picnic the ensemble sings the "Sleep Tite" anthem along with an uncomfortable Hasler, before seeing a drunken Vernon Vines perform a knife throwing act and then perform a vibrant Once a Year Day. Even the Mexican restaurant scene is fun, despite my problems with it. Because of these moments, together with a fantastic cast, The Pajama Game is a vibrant little musical, which helped me to forget any issue I have with some of the plot lines. This is well worth seeing at a low Top Price.