The Pajama Game

Infobox Musical
name= The Pajama Game


caption= Original Broadway Windowcard
music=Richard Adler
Jerry Ross
lyrics=Richard Adler
Jerry Ross
book=George Abbott
Richard Bissell
basis= Novel "7-1/2 Cents" by
Richard Bissell
productions= 1954 Broadway
1957 film
1973 Broadway Revival
2006 Broadway Revival
awards= Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Revival

"The Pajama Game" is a musical based on the novel "7-1/2 Cents" by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven and a half cent raise are going unheeded. In the midst of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, the complaint committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent.

The original Broadway production opened on May 13 1954 and ran for 1,063 performances. It was revived in 1973, and again in 2006 by The Roundabout Theatre Company. The original production won a Tony for Best Musical, and the 2006 Broadway revival won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The musical is a popular choice for community group productions.

Characters

*Sid Sorokin, the handsome new factory superintendent who falls in love with Babe, despite their being on opposite sides of the labor dispute central to the plot.
*Catherine "Babe" Williams, the leader of the Union Grievance Committee, who in turn falls in love with Sid.
*Myron "Old Man" Hasler, the strict head of the pajama factory who keeps a secret.
*Gladys Hotchkiss, Hasler's attractive, quick-witted secretary, who dates Hines and is chased by Prez.
*Vernon Hines, the factory timekeeper, who thinks Gladys flirts too much and, as a result is always jealous.
*Prez, the head of the union and a skirt chaser, despite being a married man.
*Mabel, the mother hen of the factory and Sid's secretary.
*Mae, a loud mouthed member of the Grievance Committee, who accepts Prez's advances, much to his surprise.
*Pop, Babe's kind and agreeable father.
*Max, A salesman.
*Charley, a worker in the factory and the handyman.
*Joe, a factory worker and Prez's right-hand man.
*Brenda, A member of the Grievance Committee.
*Virginia, a factory girl who fights with the union.
*Poopsie, a factory girl who fights with the union.

Plot

A strike is imminent at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, introduced to us by Hines, the factory efficiency expert, where the workers churn out pajamas at a backbreaking pace ("Racing with the Clock"). In the midst of this, a new superintendent, Sid Sorokin, has come from out of town to work in the factory ("A New Town Is a Blue Town") The union, lead by Babe, is seeking a wage raise of seven and a half cents an hour. Sid and Babe are in opposite camps yet a romance is born between them. At first, despite accusations from her fellow garment workers, Babe rejects Sid ("I'm Not At All in Love"). Meanwhile, Hines, the popular efficiency expert, is in love with Gladys, the company president's secretary, but is pushing her away with his jealous behavior. After witnesing a fight between the couple, Sid's secritary, Mable, tries to help Hines break from his jealous ways ("I'll Never Be Jealous Again".) Meanwhile, Sid, rejected once more by Babe, is forced to confide his feelings to a dictaphone ("Hey There".)

During the picnic for the factory workers, kicked off with the official "Sleep-Tite" Company Anthem, Prez chases after Gladys, who rejects his advances ("Her Is"), a Drunk Hines demonstrates his knife throwing act, and Babe begins to warm up to Sid ("Once a Year Day".) As the picnic goers head home, Prez turns his attentions to Mae, who responds in the primitive far more quickly and aggressively than he'd expected ("Her Is (Reprise)".)

Visiting Babe's home, Sid tries to broach the subject of a relationship with Babe, who in turn, attempts to deflect by making casual conversation on tangential subjects ("Small Talk".) Eventually the walls come down between the two, who admit their love for one another ("There Once Was a Man") but their estrangement is reinforced when they return to the factory. A slow-down is staged by the union, strongly supported by Babe("Racing with the Clock (Reprise)".) Sid, as factory superintendent, demands an "honest day's work" and threatens to fire slackers. Babe is enraged by his attitude and kicks her foot into the machinery, causes a general breakdown and is immediately fired by Sid ("Hey There (Reprise)").

At the Union meeting, Gladys performs for the rest of the union, with "the boys from the cutting room floor" ("Steam Heat".) After the main meeting, the Grievance Committee meets at Babe's house, to discuss further tactics, such as miss matching sizes of pajamas and sewing the fly-buttons onto the bottoms such that they are likely to come off and leave their wearer, pants-less. As the meeting, and Prez and Mae's relationship, is breaking up, Sid arrives, and tries to smooth things over with Babe, who, despite her feelings, pushes him away ("Hey There (Reprise)".)

Back at the factory, the girls reassure, Hines who is personally offended by the slow down ("Think of the Time I Save"), and Sid, now convinced that Babe's championship of the union is justified, simulates an interest in Gladys by taking her out for the evening to a night club, "Hernando's Hideaway". There he wheedles the key to the company's books from Gladys, and departs, leaving her in the care of Prez. Hines and Mae each discover the two and assume them to be on a date. Mae storms out, and Hines believes his jealous imaginings have come true ("I'll Never Be Jealous Again Ballet".) With Gladys' key Sid is eventually able to gain access to the firm's books and discovers that the boss Hasler has already tacked on the extra 71/2 cents to the overall cost, but has kept all the extra profits for himself.

In Glady's office Hines, still out of his mind jealous, flings knives past Gladys (deliberately missing, he claims) narrowly missing an increasingly paranoid Mr. Hassler. After detaining Hines, Sid then brings about Hasler's consent to a pay raise and rushes to bring the news to the Union Rally, already in progress ("7 1/2 Cents".) This news brings peace to the factory and to his love life ("There Once Was a Man (Reprise)".) Everyone goes out to celebrate—at Hernando's Hideaway ("Pajama Game".) [ [http://www.nodanw.com/shows_p/pajama_game.htm NODA website summary] ]

Musical numbers

;Act I
* Racing With the Clock -- Factory Workers
* A New Town Is a Blue Town -- Sid
* I'm Not At All in Love -- Babe and Factory Girls
* I'll Never Be Jealous Again -- Hines and Mabel
* Hey There -- Sid
* Racing With the Clock (Reprise) -- Factory Workers
* Sleep-Tite -- Company
* Her Is -- Prez and Gladys
* Once a Year Day -- Sid, Babe, and Company
* Her Is (Reprise) -- Prez and Mae
* Small Talk -- Sid, and Babe
* There Once Was a Man -- Sid, and Babe
* Hey There (Reprise) -- Sid;Act II
* Steam Heat -- Gladys, Lewie, and Jake
* The World Around Us (added to 2006 production) -- Sid
* Hey There (Reprise) -Babe
* If You Win, You Lose (added to 2006 production) -- Sid, and Babe
* Think of the Time I Save -- Hines and Factory Girls
* Hernando's Hideaway -- Gladys, Sid, and Company
* I'll Never Be Jealous Again Ballet -- Hines, Gladys, Three Men
* The Three of Us (Me, Myself and I) (added to 2006 production) -- Hines and Gladys
* 7 1/2 Cents -- Babe, Prez, and Factory Workers
* There Once Was a Man (Reprise) -- Sid, and Babe
* Pajama Game -- Full Company

Notes on the music

The music is generally played by a big band, the music being a jazzy, upbeat type of music. ;"Hernando's Hideaway"For the 2006 revival, Harry Connick Jr. played the piano, when Gladys (Megan Lawrence), Sid, and Company were on stage for "Hernando's Hideaway". "The length and form of the song remain steady," Kathleen Marshall said, "but he can improvise within it."

;"Steam Heat"In the original production, and in the film version, the famed dance number "Steam Heat" was danced by Gladys. In the 2006 revival, the number was made with Mae (Joyce Chittick), instead of Gladys. Kathleen Marshall explains: "Hines accuses Gladys of being a flirt, and she's not. So does it make sense that she'd go and strut her stuff in front of the whole union? Hines would say, 'Aha, you floozy, I caught you!' Also, she's the boss's secretary, so why would she be at a union meeting? I think it's much more fun that Gladys doesn't really let go until she goes out with Sid, gets real drunk, and throws caution to the wind."

New songs for the 2006 revival

;"The Three of Us (Me, Myself and I)"(Words & music by Richard Adler)

In 2006, Hines (Michael McKean) performed the new number, "The Three of Us" at show's end with Gladys (Megan Lawrence). At the time of the revival, Adler was quoted as saying that he wrote the song for Jimmy Durante in 1964. "It was written for Jimmy Durante," says McKean, "and Durante used to do it in his act, but he never recorded it, so it’s kind of an orphan." The song was actually featured in the 1966 television musical, "Olympus 7-000," part of the "ABC Stage 67" series which also produced Stephen Sondheim's "Evening Primrose." Eddie Foy, Jr. (who had played Hines in the original Broadway and movie versions of "The Pajama Game") introduced the song in "Olympus 7-000" and can be heard singing it on the Command Records soundtrack album. Donald O'Connor, Larry Blyden and Phyllis Newman also starred in the TV special with Foy.

;"The World Around Us""The World Around Us" was part of the 1954 Broadway previews and opening, but was dropped during the first week of the Broadway run, replaced by Babe's reprise of "Hey There." This would leave Sid with no songs in the second act, aside from the "The Once was a Man" reprise. The number was restored for the 2006 Broadway revival, allowing star Harry Connick, Jr. to have a second-act song.

;"If You Win, You Lose" (Words & music by Richard Adler)

For the 1973 revival, in place of the second-act "Hey There" reprise, there was a new song, "Watch Your Heart." Retitled "If You Win, You Lose," the song has been heard in recent productions of the show and was heard in the 2006 Broadway production.

Production history

Original Broadway

The original Broadway production opened on May 13, 1954 and closed on November 24, 1956 after 1,063 performances. It was directed by George Abbott and Jerome Robbins and featured choreography by Bob Fosse. The original cast included John Raitt, Janis Paige, Eddie Foy, Jr., Carol Haney, and Stanley Prager.

This production is noted for starting the career of Shirley MacLaine. A relative unknown at the time, she was selected to understudy Carol Haney's role. MacLaine filled the role for several months, as Haney was out of commission with a broken ankle. Director/producer Hal B. Wallis was an audience member at one of MacLaine's performances, and signed her as a contract player for Paramount Pictures.

Film, 1957

The film version was released by Warner Bros. in 1957 and featured the original stage cast except for Janis Paige, who was replaced by Doris Day.

Broadway revival, 1973

A Broadway revival opened on December 9, 1973 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, but it closed on February 3, 1974 after just 65 performances. Directed by one of the two directors of the original production in 1954, George Abbott, with choreography by Zoya Leporska. The cast included Hal Linden, Barbara McNair, and Cab Calloway as Hines.

Broadway, 2006

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival opened on February 23, 2006, and closed on June 17, 2006, after 129 performances (and 41 previews). Kathleen Marshall was choreographer and director, with a cast starring Harry Connick, Jr. making his Broadway acting debut as Sid, Kelli O'Hara as Babe, and Michael McKean as Hines. The revival included three added songs, by Richard Adler. The original book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell was revised by Peter Ackerman (screenwriter Ice Age).

Awards & Nominations

Original Broadway

*1955 Tony Awards
**Best Musical (winner)
**Best Featured Actress in a Musical -- Carol Haney (winner)
**Best Choreographer -- Bob Fosse (winner)

Broadway, 2006

*2006 Tony Awards
**Best Revival of a Musical (winner)
**Best Choreography -- Kathleen Marshall (winner)
**Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical -- Harry Connick, Jr. (nominee)
**Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical -- Kelli O'Hara (nominee)
**Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical -- Megan Lawrence (nominee)
**Best Direction of a Musical -- Kathleen Marshall (nominee)
**Best Orchestrations -- Dick Lieb and Danny Troob (nominee)
**Best Scenic Design of a Musical -- Derek McLane (nominee)
**Best Costume Design of a Musical -- Martin Pakledinaz (nominee)

*Theatre World Award
**Harry Connick, Jr.

*Drama Desk Award 2006
**Outstanding Choreography -- Kathleen Marshall (winner)
**Outstanding Revival of a Musical (nominee)
**Outstanding Actor in a Musical -- Harry Connick, Jr. (nominee)
**Outstanding Actress in a Musical -- Kelli O'Hara (nominee)
**Outstanding Director of a Musical -- Kathleen Marshall (nominee)
**Outstanding Orchestrations -- Danny Troob & Dick Lieb (nominee)
**Outstanding Sound Design -- Brian Ronan (nominee)

*Outer Critics Circle Award 2006
**Outstanding Choreography -- Kathleen Marshall (winner)
**Outstanding Revival of a Musical (nominee)
**Outstanding Direction of a Musical -- Kathleen Marshall (nominee)
**Outstanding Costume Design -- Martin Pakledinaz (nominee)
**Outstanding Actor in a Musical -- Harry Connick, Jr. (nominee)
**Outstanding Actress in a Musical -- Kelli O'Hara (nominee)
**Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical -- Peter Benson (nominee)
**Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical -- Megan Lawrence (nominee)

Recordings

*The original 1954 cast recording is available on Sony Records.
*The cast recording for the 2006 revival is a two-disc set: The first disc contains the Broadway cast recording from "The Pajama Game"; and as a suggestion from the Sony record company, there is a second disc, which contains new recordings of songs from Harry Connick, Jr.'s compositions for the 2001 musical "Thou Shalt Not", performed by Harry Connick Jr. and Kelli O'Hara. The double album is produced by Tracey Freeman and Harry Connick, Jr.

References

External links

*ibdb show|id=6904|title=The Pajama Game
* [http://www.broadway.com/gen/show.aspx?SI=517720 "The Pajama Game" (2006) at broadway.com]
* [http://arts.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1096887.php/Reviews_for_the_Pajama_Game "The Pajama Game" (2006) Reviews]
* [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=525672 Video feature: Opening Night: "The Pajama Game" (2006)]
*imdb title|id=0050814|title=The Pajama Game (1957)
* [http://www.mtishows.com/show_history.asp?ID=000057 Show history at Music Theatre International]
* [http://www.nodanw.com/shows_p/pajama_game.htm "The Pajama Game" (1954)]
* [http://wc08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=43:119229 Review of recording]