Pajama Game - Lydia's Thoughts

Right. So we've started this blog to put out our thoughts on shows we've seen. Kevin and I see lots and lots and lots of theatre - some of it good, some of it great, and some of it not so fantastic at all.

This past Saturday we saw the fourth preview performance of The Pajama Game - Roundabout's new revival - playing at the American Airlines Theatre. Of course the audience was packed for the sold-out show, and not surprisingly, it was an audience with a lot of families, somewhat touristy as well.

Enough of that - and on to the show itself: it starts out with a big number focusing in on the Factory Workers at Sleep Tite Pajama Factory. Harry Connick Jr.'s first number comes up next, and I was surprised to hear how formulaic his voice sounded. Not to say that the man can't sing, but perhaps he's been trained too long on his particular sound, and it seemed as if he was scared to break out of his comfort zone. Kelli O'Hara makes her debut a bit later - and she's drastically different from her performance in Light in the Piazza (big fan of this show). This role is much older for her, and the music very low - quite different from the notes she hit in Piazza.

Nonetheless, there are several really great numbers in the show - watch out for Hernando's Hideaway, with Megan Lawrence (from this summer's Two Gentlemen of Verona). The jazz interlude by HC Jr. is also pretty entertaining - but it will be interesting to see if this number gets cut if he ever leaves the show.

All in all, I think Pajama Game has a chance to run for a while - it appeals to tourists and has star-power, what's a better combination for a long-run? In terms of truly great impactful theatre, there are better options.