BWW Reviews: DCLO Delights with THE PAJAMA GAME

The Pajama Game
book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell
music & lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
directed by Marsha Moode
Downey Civic Light Opera
through June 17

In the 50s wearing PJs made for diversion onstage, because no one would ever have thought of them as everyday wear, at least as seen by the public eye. They were designed for privacy, kind of like lady's lingerie. Pardon the strains of Stephen Sondheim and does anyone still wear a hat? but does anyone still wear ...  pajamas?  It's definitely a thing of the past and makes this show so dated. If it were not for the lovely music, even the ups and downs of the relationship between Babe and Sid or that of Hines (Karl Schott) and Gladys (Nicole Manly) or Prez (William Crisp) and Mae (Jenny Vaughn Hall) would seem incredibly silly, almost forgettable. Would a 2012 Hines be believed singing "I'll Never Be Jealous Again" if Gladys turned her back on him? Hell, no! They'd break up on the spot. Trust, like pajamas, is a thing of the past. Yes, jealousy, insecurity and career goals, to be sure, still impede two people who love each other from getting together, but the simplicity and playfulness with which they are presented here belong to that special set of 50s, 60s behavior patterns.

But, ah, the music! "Hey There", "I'm Not At All in Love", "There Once Was a Man", not to mention the title song "The Pajama Game", "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway"! Musicals today do not have the singable tunes of yesteryear's shows. And the performances! Any show that has Karen Volpe in it is a guaranteed success. She is funny, warm and loveable, not to mention her talent as a singer. Her voice, as she sang as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, is a silver flute! In this show she has found her match with Michael Dotson as Sid. He's the guy next door, not perfectly handsome, but sturdy, cute, squeaky clean and also possessing a terrifically tuneful singing voice. Karl Schott is dynamite as Hinesie. He introduces and closes the show as humorist, kind of in the vein of Will Rogers, and is totally droll and full of the devil whenever he appears. Also fun is Crisp as Prez, Manly as Gladys and Hall as Mae. Ed Krieger is appropriately stuffy, all business as boss man Hasler. Most of the 29 person ensemble sing very well, but are less exciting as dancers, but choreographer Nathan Wise does the best he can with what he has to work with. For me, "Hernado's Hideaway" comes as an unexpected surprise in Act II, as does "Steam Heat". Praise to Christopher Curry, Sean Williams and Laura Rensing for their rousing performances with "Steam Heat", but I was disappointed in the lackluster presentation of the usually alluring "...Hideaway", which is missing that intriguingly expected spark.

A special nod to director Marsha Moode. This is a real Renaissance lady who gives 150% to everything she does. She runs the theatre, sends out the invitations, greets everyone at the door in a beautiful ball gown, entertains onstage at intermission with a charmingly delicious humor, as well as directs the entire production with panache. She is a true eccentric of the theatre, and I say that in the most endearing way possible. She is one of a dying breed of theatrical treasures.

Don't miss The Pajama Game through June 17! It's fun, enjoyably engaging entertainment, and it's clean, so bring the kids!

http://downeyciviclightopera.org/

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