Review: Pal Joey (Porchlight Music Theatre)

  
  
Pal Joey 

By Richard Rodgers (music), Lorenz Hart (lyrics)
   and John O’Hara (book)
Directed by Michael Weber
at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont (map)
thru May 26  |  tickets: $41   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read entire review
  

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Prepare to be bewitched!

Porchlight Music Theatre presents

Pal Joey

Review by Clint May 

It’s hard to find a story more Chicago—even the musical named Chicago, debuting 35 years after Pal Joey, had its work cut out for it competing for that title. There’s a rather cynical undercurrent to this tale that must have been bracing for the original 1940 audiences. The eponymous Joey is a misanthrope, misogynist, borderline sociopath banking on his youthful good looks and charm to ensure a rise in the social ranks. It’s hard to tell if he’s an anti-hero or a charming jerk (maybe both). Either way, Porchlight Music Theatre has mounted a fun, frisky evening affair that’s brimming with great moves, humor, and some now classic songbook numbers.

Joey (Adrian Aguilar) arrives in Chicago, fresh from being sent afloat by angry creditors and looking to score it in the big time: owning and emceeing his own club. His many failed auditions lead him to a two-bit club on Wabash, where he finally convinces the owner Mike (Steven Pringle) to take a chance on him and some savvy (read: dishonest) marketing. On his journeys through Chicago, he meets and charms a young sprite, Linda (Laura Savage), who falls for his charms only to see them dashed when Joey’s eyes turn to the wealthy benefactor Vera (Susie McMonagle). She’s a savvy thwart who falls for Joey despite knowing just what he is, famously “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” that such a thing could still happen—least of all to her and least of all from him. She grants Joey’s dream, giving him his Chez Joey and setting him up as a “kept” boy she dotes on and calls “Beauty.”. Of course, nothing comes without a price, and his quick rise to fame puts he and Vera in the sights of some scheming malefactors.

Make no mistake, this is McMonagle’s musical. She’s got a sultry tone and world-weary cosmopolitan air about her that makes the stage a little less interesting whenever she’s not on it. Aguilar has the face but doesn’t charm nearly as well as his female counterparts, including Savage’s not-so-naive Linda. Beyond the story itself, the music is classic Rodgers though Hart’s lyrics lack some of the finesse of his more famous partner Hammerstein. There’s showgirls in show stoppers—”The Flower Garden of My Heart” gets some great laughs from the listless Clare Dolan – aided by Bill Morey’s costumes – and Callie Johnson as the demure-journalist-cum-seductress Melba could be broken out as a one-woman show. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the divine diva Sharriese Hamilton as Gladys Bumps, the scheming dancer and powerhouse singer. In the end, it seems that men are mere ornamentation for these women (you have to love Linda and Vera finally deciding Joey is more trouble than he’s worth in their duet, “Take Him”). 

That scheming sows the seeds of its own undoing and happy endings come in forms more melancholy than most musicals is something to be praised for its world-weary insight appropriate now more than ever. Love him or hate him, you might still end up feeling sorry for Joey, whose only ‘pal’ is, in the end, himself. That said, you could leave the heavy themes behind and just sit back and enjoy the humor and chorus girls and still be ‘bewitched’ by this musical.

Rating: ★★★

Pal Joey continues through May 26th at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont (map), with performances Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays 4pm and 8pm, Sundays 2pm.  Tickets are $41, and are available by phone (773-327-5252) or online through Vendini.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.  (Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, includes an intermission)

Photos by Brandon Dahlquist

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artists

cast

Adrian Aguilar (Joey Evans), Steven Pringle (Mike Spears), Rachel Osting (Claire “The Kid”), Sharriese Hamilton (Gladys Bumps), Jordan Yentz (Valerie), Lexi Lyric (Terry), Jenna Schoppe (Tilda), Laura Savage (Linda English), Daniel Spagnuolo (Victor), Susie McMonagle (Vera Simpson), Darrin French (Harry, Drunk Gent), Kory Pullam (Waldo), Ben Chang (Mr. Swift, Ernest, Herman, Mr. Hooper), Jim Heatherly (Mr. Armour, Louis, Commissioner O’Brien), Clare Dolan (Agnes), Callie Johnson (Melba Snyder), Matt Orlando (Ludlow Lowell)

behind the scenes

Michael Weber (director), Brenda Didier (choreography), Doug Peck (music direction), William Boles (scenic design), Bill Morey (costumes), Nick Belley, Greg Hofmann (lighting), Victoria Deiorio (sound design), Angela Campos (properties design), Scott Sowinski (wig and makeup design), Patrick Fries (production manager), Thom Van Ermen (stage management), Gordon Granger (tech director), Brandon Dahlquist (photos)

  

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