‘The Pajama Game’ Seacoast Repertory Theatre

“The Pajama Game” was made famous more than 50 years ago by director George Abbott and choreographer Bob Fosse. The original musical starred Carol Haney, whose understudy, Shirley MacLaine, became famous after Haney suffered an ankle injury.

The production will headline through the summer at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. This play is not a particular favorite of mine—many plot points are dated, and there are musical numbers, including its most famous, “Steam Heat,” that have nothing to do with the plot. The song-and-dance is supposedly there to entertain us while a management-labor meeting takes place, but it’s actually there to inject a bit more excitement, slick moves and, above all, sex into the play. And while I find it unnecessary, there’s no doubt that when executed as beautifully as it was at the Rep, it was a damn fun number to watch.

The plot is simple enough: A young woman, Babe Williams (Lauren Sowa), has worked for three years in a pajama factory, both at a sewing machine with a slew of other young ladies and as a grievance counselor. Sid (Craig J. Faulkner), the new company manager, meets her on his first day over a trumped up complaint from a lazy employee, and as this was the 1940s, he immediately asks her out. She declines, pointing out that she’s a union laborer, seeking a raise of seven and a half cents per hour (which has been given industry-wide, except for at her company). Since he is management, it can only end badly. No matter what happens, they’re both determined to succeed at their jobs, so they agree they shouldn’t date.

I’ll leave you to guess how that turns out.

When a strike is imminent and it’s Babe who pulls the switch, Sid feels he has no choice but to step up to the plate with an equally drastic move. Both the company and the relationship are torn apart.

The star of the show, without question, is choreographer Kevin R. Hauge, who could give Fosse a run for his money. Movement matches music and mood seamlessly, and with a cast this large, that ain’t no easy trick. “Hernando’s Hideaway” is a brilliantly creative showstopper, and there are several other numbers just as fascinating. 

However, there seems to be a clash of styles. For example, Gladys (Jessica Moryl), the redheaded sexpot who’s in charge of keeping all eyes off the ledger, is a larger-than-life, Brooklynese, nasal character, as is her insanely jealous boyfriend Hines (Christopher Bradley). Several of the company members fit the same description, including John Flynn as the tightfisted, mulish company owner, Mr. Hasler. But Lauren Sowa, in the role as cast, was reminiscent of a young Meryl Streep in her spunky strength, and Faulkner was equally impressive as her male counterpart. While their performances (and especially their vocals) were real and relatable, they didn’t fit with the over-the-top portrayal most of the other cast members adopted. One minute we’re watching a cartoon, and the next we’re watching a drama. Either choice would work, but the mixture feels unstable.

Several of the supporting cast members, including the versatile Megan Quinn as Mabel, the office manager; Christine DuLong as Mae, another sewing girl; and the aforementioned Christopher Bradley, keep the interest and the action going, much to the enjoyment of the Father’s Day audience on opening day.

“The Pajama Game” will run through Aug. 10 at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, 125 Bow St., Portsmouth, 603-433-4793. Performances are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.