Produced in partnership by the USM Department of Theatre and School of Music, “The Pajama Game” is set during a labor dispute in a pajama factory where the union girls, lead by Babe, played by Emily Holton, have reached an impasse with the Factory Head Myron Hassler over his refusal to raise wages by seven and a half cents. A handsome new factory superintendent, Sid Sorokin, played by Chris Ellis, becomes interested in Babe and the two begin a relationship, only to be torn apart by the conflict. When Sid discovers that Hassler may have a dirty secret that could settle the dispute and possibly save his romance, he commits himself to uncovering the dirt.
However, the plot plays a background role during this hilarious musical. The focus is firmly on the character relationships, witty dialogue and situational comedy provided by the excellent ensemble cast. While some of the songs served the purposes of the plot, like “Racing with the Clock,” many others were included for their own sake, such as “Her Is” and “I’ll Never Be Jealous Again.” There was no need for lapel microphones, as the orchestra was situated behind the audience, creating a surround sound effect.
Characterization in the production was a hit or miss. While Holton and Ellis are excellent vocalists, their characters, Babe and Sid, really only stood out in their feature numbers. Sid’s character tended to fall flat, and was outshone by Babe. Sid was easily overshadowed by the colorful and uninhibited supporting cast, featuring standout performances by Joey Vallerie as Prez, Autumn Pound as Gladys and Kelly Mosher as Mabel.
The witty exchanges and humorous antics of the supporting cast really carried the show. In one scene the factory workers get drunk at a company picnic. Sid and Prez attempt to flirt with the union ladies and Hines, the factory timekeeper, gets jealous when his girlfriend, Gladys, flirts with Sid. He tries to win back her attention with a drunken knife throwing display. Hines becomes the center of attention when he shows off his skills by chucking knives around the perimeter of Babe’s body. Hines jealousy gets the better of him when he see’s Sid take an over-eager Gladys out to a nightclub. Although he’s only using her to get the key to Hasslers’ “Secret Factory Book,” which may include the reason why workers are not getting their seven and a half cent raise, Hines discovers the pair in Hasslers’ office and interprets the scene differently. Knife throwing ensues once again.
Pound’s rendition of Gladys was easily an audience favorite. Gladys’ larger-than-life persona was matched in Pounds’ equally powerful vocals and convincingly thick Brooklyn accent. Her hollering swagger kept the audience rolling in their seats in constant laughter. Mosher’s Mabel was another crowd-pleaser, playing the funny factory “mom” with an exaggerated sashay and swing in each step.
“The Pajama Game” is a fun, funny musical and what it lacks in substance it more than makes up for in humor and wit. Despite its weak plot, the cast carries the show with style and shows why this simple story is a Tony-winner.