Pajama Game Cuts?

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 1/7/06 at 10:25am

I was just reading the article on Playbill.com about The Pajama Game (the same one where Marshall talks about the choreography) and saw that they are adding three additional songs to the score. With all this added music are they going to make any cuts from the original score? I can't imagine that they would keep everything AND three news songs. The show wasn't exactly short to begin with. Does anyone know what is going to be cut? I remember reading earlier that there were going to be some changes--but am wondering if anyone has any early idea what they might be? Will the cut the "Jealousy Ballet"?, will Prez's character be toned down thus taking away the two "Her Is" numbers?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 1/7/06 at 12:36pm

It wouldn't surprise me if they cut "The Jealousy Ballet", or at least a lot of the music from it, or at least re-orchestrate it to make it shorter, because i don't feel it's really ever seemed to work.

I doubt they'll cut "Her Is".

And then, they might not cut anythihg, MArshall tends to me a musical theatre purist, sticking as close to the source material as possible.

But hey she's nto using the original Fosse choreography, so i suppose anything's game.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 1/7/06 at 12:50pm

That is all definitely true. I sort of had a feeling that Marshall might decide to keep everything becauase of her dislike of tampering with classics. However, I have seen several productions that have omitted "The Jealous Ballet" before. The reason I suggested "Her Is" is because I remember reading somewhere that parts of the script might be redone and that a character might be reinvisioned. The role of Prez and his womanizing at the company picnic might have been viewed as non-PC and reworked--especially since Adler is adding so much more music. The Pajama Game is one of my all-time favorite classic shows and I have played the role of Prez on two separate occassions. It was probably one of the most fun roles I have played.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/7/06 at 1:45pm

I'm getting the feeling they'd be better off cutting the entire production.

Here's what's going to happen.:

THey'll make cuts and changes, and put bad choreography into it.

All the Harry Connick Jr and Kelly O'Hara fans will go see it, love them in it, and call the show "dated" and "crappy" without hearing the OBC or seeing the film that has most of Fosse's choreography.

Mark my words!

[Buscee]

Posted: 1/7/06 at 2:01pm

I recently directed a production of this classic, and omitted the ballet right off the bat. Also a section out of the Once a Year Day Dance. The show normally runs over 2 1/2 hours, but I managed to get it down to a little over 2 hours. I was able to cut out some bits that unless u were a fan you wouldnt have missed it. So I am sure that they will make similiar cuts, and be able to fit the new songs in.