From the Pal Joey website: "Set in Chicago in the late 1930s, PAL JOEY is the story of Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub. Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English, to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she'll set him up in business."
This is a revival from the 1940's show originally played by Gene Kelly. Currently in previews, the official opening night is December 11th. It is a limited engagement run until February 15, 2009 at the old Studio 54.
When I got to the theater and took a seat, I felt quite a vibration underneath me. The theater is located above one of new York's subway lines and every few minutes you do feel your chair rattle a little... For the Broadway fans, we do know for a fact that most theaters' leg room can be rather small, squeezing the rows closer and closer to get more chairs in. However, I do have to say, I was rather surprise with the leg room of the theater. I could actually stretch out quite a distance and did not have the usual leg cramps by the time the show was over.
The set design, done by Scott Pask, is quite nice. The background set is a street in Chicago's Loop with an elevated "L" train track. The stage changes are well done; going from a bar, to an apartment to a diner, to a street... Staging floors move on both sides of the stage as well as from the back to the center-front of the stage, and the usual drops from the ceiling. Mr. Pask did capture the 1930's furniture and design brilliantly.
The costume design is absolutely fantastic. Done by William Ivey Long, the suits, dresses and dancers costumes are just beautiful, specially the dresses worn by Vera Simpson (Stockard Channing), with a lot of spark and well (some very tight) fittings.
However, here is why I gave it a 3-star...
For the first few minutes of the show, Joey Evans, played by ex-Jersey Boy Christian Hoff, dances around in what it seems an eternity without signing a single lyric... It did seem a little silly and did not help set the show very well. It might have worked well for Gene Kelly, but did not for Mr. Hoff. Sadly, at some points it did seems that Mr.Hoff had two left feet. I don't think dancing is one of his strengths.
And then, when he started singing, I don't know if there was a problem with his voice, but it was cracking, out of tune and could not sing as well as it is expected from a Tony winner. His acting skills were his saving grace; carrying the character of the ambitious Joey Evans well though the entire show.
Stockard Channing, as expected, shines excellently in her acting of the rich, manipulating and clever Vera Simpson. I do have to giver her major credit for going up and down circular and narrow stairs that run from the top to the bottom of the stage in high heels and tight dresses. However, her singing, not as bad as Christian Hoff, could have used a little bit more training and warm-up as well.
The real star of the show is Martha Plimpton. She does an amazing job in the role of the aging night club singer Glady Bumps. Ms. Plimpton should be the one who gets credit for carrying the plot and story line all the way through. You feel her emotions, ranging from hate to distress to anguish. Ms. Plimpton's acting should get her a Tony nomination, at least.
The support cast is very good as well. Jenny Fellner, who plays Linda English, has an important role on the show as she is the cathartic character who bring Pal Joey to his senses. Robert Clohessy, in the role of Mike, has to deal with balancing two roles in his life: a tough manager of a successful night club while hiding his homosexuality to the world; a taboo subject for an original 1940's show.
The dancers are fantastic with what it seems non-stop and back-to-back dance numbers, specially in the first part of the show. (I always wonder how they get in and out of clothes that quickly!)
I do have to give credit to the director, Joe Mantello, for doing a great revival of Pal Joey. All of the elements came brilliantly together and the hard work of his entire team shines through the whole show. I just wished it was better singing from the lead actors... there is time to be fixed before the "official" opening night.
UPDATE!!! -- From "The New York Times" entertainment section - Nov.24, 2008:
"Christian Hoff has withdrawn from the coming Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hart's "Pal Joey" and has been replaced by his understudy, Matthew Risch, the show's producers announced Monday.
Mr. Hoff, who starred in "Jersey Boys," injured his foot during a Friday night preview performance, the producers said; Mr. Risch took over the role for the remaining weekend performances. The character of Joey Evans, previously played onstage by Gene Kelly and on film by Frank Sinatra, had been expected to be a breakthrough role for Mr. Hoff.
The show's opening night at Studio 54 has been postponed by one week to Dec. 18."
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