Cast of “The Pajama Game,” which wraps up this weekend at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall. (Bill Giduz photo)

By CONNIE FISHER

Move over Harry Connick Jr.: A new star is shining on the Davidson Community Players’ stage this summer. From his opening note in, “A New Town is a Blue Town,” audiences this month are being treated to the beautiful, strong voice of Bill Caswell. He has the lead role of Sid Sorokin, the newly hired superintendant of the Sleep-Tite pajama factory Davidson Community Players’ production of “The Pajama Game.”

The show’s final performances are this weekend at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall.

John Raitt played the original leading man in the Broadway production which opened in 1954 and Connick became the protagonist in New York’s most recent revival in 2006. Although Caswell is a newcomer to the Davidson stage, he’s been performing with a variety of theater companies since his college days in Vermont. Hopefully he’ll be enticed back to the Davidson boards.

No wonder Babe Williams, head of the Sleep-Tite factory’s grievance committee, delightfully played by the graceful Meredith Swanson, falls for Sid. It’s love at first sight. Their voices, whether in solo or in duet, resonate with charm, rendering such tunes as “Once a Year Day,” “There Once Was a Man,” and “Hey There.” No wonder their enticing kisses become increasingly frequent.

The figure of Kevin Roberge onstage is always exciting. There isn’t anything the man can’t do—dance, sing, or act with precise timing for comedy. As Hines, the energetic factory timekeeper, Roberge treats the audience to his multi-talents topped by an oozing streak of jealousy when Gladys, the boss’s secretary appears to be pursued by the skirt-chasing Prez, head of the union.

Gladys is portrayed by the charming Emily Hunter who is also the show’s choreographer. Her talent shines in the second act leading the “I’ll Never Be Jealous Again” ballet in a somewhat inebriated state at Hernando’s Hideaway. Anne Lambert who plays Mabel, Sid’s secretary and is mother hen to the Sleep-Tite factory workers, performs a wonderful duet and dance with Roberge in the first act’s version of, “I’ll Never Be Jealous Again.”
Steven James, portraying Prez, who constantly pursues the ladies, despite the fact that he’s a married man, is surprised when Mae, a loud-mouth member of the grievance committee accepts his advances. Mae is played by KC Roberge.

When Carol Haney broke her ankle while playing Mae in Broadway’s original two-and-a-half year run of “The Pajama Game,” she was replaced for a time by a relatively unknown Shirley MacLaine. The role went on to launch MacLaine’s career, especially after her enticingly sexy rendition of “Steam Heat.” Could it be that KC Roberge will follow in Mac Laine’s footsteps? KC’s version of “Steam Heat” is seductive—steaming hot!

Although Mac Laine danced the number solo, in the Davidson Community Players’ version KC is accompanied by Jeremiah Alsop as Max, the salesman and Kristian Andrewson, as Charlie, the factory handyman which is fine because both young men are a joy to watch. They’re very talented dancers.

Director Melissa Ohlman-Roberge chose to produce the 2006 version of Richard Adler and Jerry Ross’s play, which is based on the Richard Bissell novel, “7½ Cents.” After Broadway’s initial success in 1954, “The Pajama Game,” was revived in 1973 and again in 2006. A film version was released by Warner Brothers in 1957. Since 1954, “The Pajama Game” has become an all-time favorite musical for the regional, community and school stages because of its upbeat, jazzy style of music.

On Davidson stages, Ohlman-Roberge always manages to achieve wonders with the  invariable large number of performers in a musical cast requiring intricate set changes. “The Pajama Game” is no exception although Anna Sartin’s set design of stacked see-through cubes at times is distracting. The raised pajama factory’s rear-stage office and machinery settings, however, are cleverly designed and timely lighted by Bruce Auerbach.

WANT TO GO?

Performances of “The Pajama Game” continue at the Duke Family Performance Hall at Davidson College on Thursday, June 27, through Saturday, June 29, at 8pm with an additional afternoon performance at 2pm on Saturday, June 29. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Davidson Community Players box office at 704-892-7953 or online at www.DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org.