Pal Joey (musical)
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Pal Joey is a 1940 Broadway musical by American writer John O'Hara, with music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The play is based on the character and situations that O'Hara created in a series of short stories published in The New Yorker magazine. It included two songs that have become standards: I Could Write a Book and Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (see Great American Songbook).
Directed by George Abbott, the opening-night cast included Gene Kelly, Vivienne Segal, Van Johnson, and June Havoc. It opened on December 25, 1940 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and ran for 374 performances. A film of the musical was made in 1957, starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, and Kim Novak.
The show is referenced to in the 2004 Tony Award winning best musical Avenue Q.
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[edit] Revivals
The play was a greater success when revived on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1952, running for 540 performances. Starring were Harold Lang, Vivienne Segal, and Helen Gallagher. Dances and musical numbers were staged by Robert Alton, the original choreographer.
It was revived off-Broadway in 1963 (15 performances), on Broadway in 1976 (73 performances), and in 1995, as a concert staging at City Center Encores! starring Peter Gallagher and Patti Lupone.
There were two productions in London's West End: in March 1954 at the Princes Theatre, starring Harold Lang, Carol Bruce and Sally Bazely; and the Noel Coward Theatre, from September 1980 until September 1981, starring Sian Phillips, Danielle Carson, and Denis Lawson.
[edit] Plot summary
- The time and place: Chicago in the late 1930's.
- The characters: Joey Evans, a small-time dancer and entertainer--a charming "heel"; Vera Simpson, a wealthy, bored, married socialite; Linda Evans, a naive young woman, who becomes Joey's girlfriend; Gladys, a chorus girl who dislikes Joey; Melba, a reporter.
The stage musical's plot is more coherent and sequential than the stories on which it is based. Joey Evans, as an unsympathetic antihero, is a striking departure from the usual musical-comedy formula. Richard Rodgers said of Joey: "Joey was not disreputable because he was mean, but because he had too much imagination to behave himself, and because he was a little weak." (New York Times, December 30, 1951)
Joey, a second-rate dancer with big plans, schemes to get his dream--his own nightclub--"Chez Joey". In doing so, he leaves his girlfriend Linda and romances an older wealthy married woman, Vera Simpson, to convince her to set him up in business. Vera thus becomes vulnerable to a blackmail attempt which is thwarted by Linda. Several minor characters, Gladys, a chorus girl and Melba, a reporter, figure into the plot. Vera, bored with Joey, throws him out and he ends up alone.
The burlesque spoof, the song "Zip", was sung as a speciality number by the character "Melba": Elaine Stritch in the 1952 revival, Kay Medford in the 1963 revival, Dixie Carter in the 1976 revival, and Bebe Neuwirth in the 1995 concert.
Most of the actors who played Joey were dancers as well as actors and singers, since the character was a dancer: Gene Kelly, Harold Lang, Christopher Chadman (a choreographer, as well), and Bob Fosse.
[edit] Musical numbers
- You Mustn't Kick It Around ...Joey Evans, Gladys Bumps, Agnes, The Kid, Chorus Girls and Waiters
- I Could Write a Book ...Joey Evans and Linda English
- Chicago ...Dancer and Chorus Girls
- That Terrific Rainbow ... Gladys Bumps, Victor and Girls
- Love Is My Friend ... Vera Simpson
- Happy Hunting Horn ... Joey Evans, Terry, Chorus Girls and Boy Friends
- Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered ... Vera Simpson
- Pal Joey (What Do I Care For A Dame?)...Joey Evans
Act 2
- The Flower Garden of My Heart ...Gladys Bumps, The Tenor, Specialty Dancer and Ensemble
- Zip ... Melba Snyder
- Plant You Now, Dig You Later ...Ludlow Lowell, Gladys Bumps and Ensemble
- In Our Little Den (of Iniquity) ...Vera Simpson and Joey Evans
- Do It The Hard Way ... Ludlow Lowell, Gladys Bumps, Dancer and Ensemble
- Take Him ... Vera Simpson, Linda English and Joey Evans
- Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered (Reprise) ...Vera Simpson
- I Could Write A Book (Reprise)...Joey Evans
[edit] Tony Awards and nominations
- 1952 Revival
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical--Helen Gallagher (WINNER)
- Best Choreography--Robert Alton (WINNER)
- Conductor and Musical Director--Max Meth (WINNER)
- 1963 Revival
- Best Actor in a Musical--Bob Fosse (nominee)
[edit] 2007 Revival
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This article contains information about an upcoming Broadway play or musical. The content is expected to change as more information becomes available and/or it has its official opening night. |
It has been reported that producer Marc E. Platt, along with writer Richard Greenberg and director Joe Mantello are planning a revival, expected in the fall. (See www.jewishjournal.com, February 17, 2007, and The Syracuse Post Standard, February 28, 2007)
[edit] External links
- Pal Joey at Internet Broadway Database [1]
- R&H Theatricals
- Synopsis
- playbill.com article March 22, 2006 on possible revival
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This musical theatre related article is a stub. See WikiProject Musical Theatre. You can help by expanding it. |
| Musicals of Rodgers and Hart |
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| The Garrick Gaieties • Dearest Enemy • The Girl Friend • Peggy-Ann • A Connecticut Yankee • Present Arms • America's Sweetheart • Jumbo • On Your Toes • Babes in Arms • I'd Rather Be Right • The Boys from Syracuse • I Married an Angel • Too Many Girls • Higher and Higher • Pal Joey • By Jupiter |
