The Pajama Game

The Pajama Game book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

Director & Choreographer Gillian Parry, assisted by Marina Voak, hasa great production with a very good strong cast and, with the music under the direction of Tom Guyer, brings out the best with the music and singing made for a great night's entertainment. The set is simple and very effective, lighting and sound are also good, and the costumes are just right.

Set in a Pajama Factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the 50s, the workers have been trying to get a 7½ cent raise. The Boss Mr Hasler played by Davis Collis has been keeping it from them.

Mike Pavitt is very good in his role of Vernon Hines, the time study man, and keeps everyone up to speed in the factory, he has his eye on Gladys (Hasler's secretary) played by Sophie Barnard, and they work well together and they both have some great numbers.

David Ferrett plays Sid, the new superintendent, who’s new to town and soon falls for Babe – Susie Maycock - who’s on the Union Grievance committee. There is great chemistry between them, they both have strong voices and come across very well and confident in their roles. Everything is going well for them until a slow down at the factory and Babe breaks one of the machines so Sid fires her. Terry O’Farrell plays Babe’s father and he has some nice moments.

Other character roles are Tina Adams as Mabel (Sid’s secretary), Paul Dawson-Plincke as Prez a ladies’ man, and Babe’s Union reps Abi Jeffery as Mae, Matthew Pike as Max, Amanda Peaty as Brenda and Ellie Robinson as Poopsie. Everyone all played their parts well.

Sid takes Gladys out to Hernando’s Hideaway, which is a great full company number, to get the key for the accounts book that she keeps round her neck. She gives him the keys and Sid finds out that Mr Hasler has already worked out the pay rise into the budget. The workers get their raise and Sid and Babe get back together.

The chorus are very good too and you can tell everyone was enjoying themselves. There are lots of great numbers in this show, Steam Heat, Once a Year Day, Hey There, and Seven and a Half Cents, when they work out how much money they would get with the pay rise. Well done to you all on a very good production.

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