The Pajama Game

What do you do to celebrate 60 years of theatrical productions?  Do you go down the tried and trusted route of staging one of the bigger musicals, or do you try something a little different?  Well, Jarrow Musical Theatre Company chose the latter route with their rendition of The Pajama Game and it proved to be a happy and successful show.

With all societies trying to attract that elusive audience it was nice to see a relatively full house that I am sure left thoroughly entertained.  Under the intuitive direction of Michelle Coulson the show was lively and fast paced and moved seamlessly from number to number and scene to scene.  This was due in no small way to the clever set construction and work of the set artists who deserve much credit for their work. This was seen with the staging of the two memorable numbers Hernando’s Hideaway and Steam Heat when the orchestra also came to their fore.
Recreating a story of industrial strife and sprinkling it with a love theme is not easy but this show did so very well.

Wherever possible the Company always tries to cast from within their own membership, and by doing so help promote their young and emerging talent whilst having the safeguard of being able to fall back upon their experienced members.  It worked for them again on this occasion with good performances coming in the leading roles of Trade Union Leader Babe Williams and Factory Superintendent Sid Sorokin played respectively by Frances Wood and Daniel Gibson.

The experience came from Lawrence Clarke who played the neurotic and jealous time and motion man, Hines, in his own inimitable comedic style, whilst Jilliane Reay gave a strong performance as his lovelorn girlfriend Gladys.  They were also well supported by Grayson Wood, as the womaniser and Union Leader Prez, Margaret Gray, as Secretary Mabel, and Terry Connelly and Michael Hall as Hasler and Pop respectively.

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