The Pajama Game, The Rattonians Youth Group, Devonshire Park Theatre Eastbourne Review

The Rattonians Youth Group presents

The Pajama Game 

A Musical Comedy

 7-10 April 2010

Devonshire Park Theatre

Eastbourne

Well although I'm posting this the day after seeing this you only have a couple of days to see this entertaining little musical performed by the very talented Rattonian Youth Group.

Let's start with the band first this year however and perhaps we should have seen the programme labelled "The Rattonian Youth group accompanied by the Rattonians Band 'The Sardines'"

Actually a few little sardines probably have more room to move in their tin than the 12 band members did in The Devonshire Park Theatre's very small orchestra pit. I can imagine that it must have taken some considerable time to organize this so that each of the 11 men and one woman were as comfortable as possible for the show. It certainly can't have been the most comfortable experience for them. Even in the interval many of the band members had to literally step over the pit into the auditorium to escape for 20 minutes and two in the middle didn't even bother leaving. Whether this was because they didn't want to, it was to much hassle or they actually couldn't is anybody's guess. However, squashed or not, 'The Sardines' put on a great musical performance and led us into the show with what must be one of the longest intros in musical history.

It's not the first time producers Mark and Melanie Adams have chosen The Pajama Game for their Company. It was performed in 1988 at The Royal Hippodrome and as it is suited  a young company it has been resurrected for 2010.

However, this is far removed from the very innocent Just So (Rudyard Kipling story based) musical performed last year. For me it is appears a  brave thing to stage a musical that covers beer drinking, infidelity and more than a hint or two of sexual relations with such a young cast (vast majority under 16). However when, in this day and age, most children probably know more about these subjects from their parents I wonder if it really matters?

I guess only official local  press reaction will be the way to establish how this goes down with the audiences over it's 4 day run.

The story revolves around a Pajama factory (Sleep Tite). It covers the relationship between company and staff and specifically the relationship between superintendant, Sid Sorokin and leader of the the Grievance Committee, Babe Williams. Meanwhile married man Prez (unhappily married he claims) fancies his chances with almost anything that breathes and wears a skirt informing each woman they are the one for him. There's also a side story that all our pajama makers feel they are underpaid and have to persuade their "book cooking" boss, Hasler, that they warrant the extra cash.

As with a lot of plays and musicals the first act is more about scene setting and getting you familiar with relationships between characters. It is of course not the Rattonians fault (George Abbott and Richard Bissell wrote the original book) but the second half is certainly far more entertaining and lively. As I said this happens in many a play/musical and is not a critisism of any performance on the night.

What was great this year is that a comment I made last year had been addressed. Several additional microphones were positioned at the stage edge to carry the young performers voices above the great sound from The Sardines so the audience could hear better.  I'd love to take the credit but I'm sure Mark and Melanie Adams have something better to do with 70+ Youth Group members plus all the seniors to read this annual waffle.

My wife and I had a chat about the casting on the way home and had to agree that the principal characters had been very well cast.

As always all The Rattonians were vocally excellent but whilst I really hate picking out individuals it would be unfair not to mention some truly exceptional performances. Ben Gurney (Prez) plays an excellent "God's gift to women" and not only acts well but costume also did a great job of making him look like a lecherous so-and-so too. Lucy Cheetham is perfect as Mabel and Aimee Dyer shines as the scatty Gladys.

However, it is one of those shows where the leads really do stand out. Ryan Funnell has a very involved role as the suffering-in-love Sid Sorokin. But he sailed through this opening night having put in an emotional and vocally superb performance.

And then we come to the last-but-not-least.

12 months ago there was a young, sweet, girl who must have made her family very proud in Just So. For once I quote myself "Young Meggie Dennis was a revelation as the Kolokolo Bird." 

How a young performer can mature so much in a mere 12 months is amazing. Tonight Meggie was a 'young girl' no more. Instead an incredible, confident 'young lady' took to the stage to deliver a stunning mature performance. She really put the 'Babe' into Babe Williams. Yes essentially the Pajama Game is a comedy but there is also the requirement for a good deal of emotion in this show. Emotion is something this young lady can deliver with a capital E.

If Meggie Dennis isn't on a national stage in the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago in the next 5-10 years I would be amazed - it's a role made for her.

So nice work Meggie and to all The "younger" Rattonians for yet another great show. If anything let you down tonight it's the same thing as last year that you have no control over whatsoever and which I know the producers are aware of. That is the size of The Devonshire Park Theatre Stage for such a large company. It must be so incredibly difficult for parents of some company members to even spot them during crowded moments on stage. If only this coud be staged at the Congress it could be so different (and the Sardines could swim again!) but from a practical point of view the larger theatre has other shows to stage.

Next up from The Rattonians (seniors and youth members) is Broadway Bound " A fabulous selection of showstoppers from your favourite musicals". That's at The Congress Theatre (hooray!) from 21st to 31st July. We then in November 2010 get a treat, again from The Youth Group, with Hairspray (Dates and venue to be confirmed).

Incidentally 'The Rattonians' is one of the most used search phrases on this site. So thank you to whoever keeps popping in. Whether you are a Rattonian, potential audience member or just curious about The Rattonians work thanks for your support. You will find a little more on The Rattonians on my special page at Fans Of Drama and Promoting Theatre .

I'll be back with a review of Broadway Bound sometime in July by which time The Rattonians will have raised many. many more pounds for very worthwhile charitable causes.

Note there is a typing error in the above flyer
The correct dates are 21-31 July 2010

Just So The Musical Review The Rattonians Youth Group Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre

THE RATTONIANS YOUTH GROUP PRESENTS JUST SO THE MUSICAL
DEVONSHIRE PARK THEATRE, EASTBOURNE
15th-18th APRIL 2009

Performance seen
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Just So is a musical by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and is based on Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" stories for children.

The story essentially follows the Elephant Child (Jonathan Stevens) and the Kolokolo Bird (Meggie Dennis) as they travel through the jungle, discovering other species of animals along the way, to their eventual destination the Limpopo River.

Mark and Melanie Adams on this occasion have produced a colourful song and dance spectacular with superb costumes. Their Son Alex took up the narrator role (The Eldest Magician) whilst daughter Alicia was part of the main ensemble.

The Rattonians are always wonderful and I don't normally single anybody out but I'm going to make an exception this time round.

Catherine Anderson (Zebra) and Laura Sivers (Giraffe) are among the more senior of the Rattonians and are always completely professional. But what a particularly excellent comedy duo this combination made in this production. I think it gave these two a chance to show off more in terms of their super acting ability in addition to the flawless vocal performances they always deliver in the more traditional musicals. The rapport between these two worked so well perhaps they should consider becoming a female comedy double act?

Sticking with the seniors Ryan Funnell made a hilarious Parsee Man whilst Lucy Anderson got to ably demonstrate an impressive Aussie accent and performance as the Kangaroo.

But with a cast of over 90 everybody really deserves a mention for an excellent show but again I can't resist singling out 2 of the younger members this time.

Young Meggie Dennis was a revelation as the Kolokolo Bird. This is one of the most important roles in the show and for such a young member to put in such an outstanding performance is incredible. With an incredible voice and a faultless delivery of her script with great facial expressions I can see many a lead role for her in the future.

And whilst on great facial expressions I have to mention Mia Longman as Dingo Dog. Whilst Mia doesn't get to appear until the second part of the show she makes up for lost time playing an amazingly funny Dingo. Nice job Mia!

As I said though there are over 90 in the Rattonians Youth Group and whilst I have mentioned but a few they were all excellent!

I have to also praise Mark and Melanie Adams for their clever use of the "posh people boxes" at the sides of the stage. They made a good use of these both for ensemble dancing and an additional area for the narrator role.

So as usual everything with the Rattonians was perfect right?

Well no actually.

The cast was perfect............ The orchestra was perfect.

At least they were in their own right.

But put the combination of the two together and we had an orchestra who on many occasions were completely obliterating the singing of the talented cast on stage.

Now I have to admit we've previously only seen The Rattonians at the much larger Congress Theatre. In that theatre the orchestra are in a much larger pit. They are sunk further down from the stage and are more spread out.

In that theatre you can hear every lyric The Rattonians singing can be heard without problem, but this wasn't the case at The Devonshire Park Theatre.

The Devonshire also has an orchestra pit but it is so much smaller and the impressive orchestra did appear very crammed in. Sadly this immense musical power right in front of and so close to the cast meant that you were watching the on-stage actions but missing many a lyric and probably a lot of the comedy which this show depends on.

Granted we were directly in front of the orchestra and therefore closest to the stage. But hearing the singing has never been an issue before whether in the front row or elsewhere.

I got the general impression that if we were having this problem so close to the stage it could only be the same, or worse, further back.

However, it was first night, and perhaps other audience members noticed this sound issue? It may be that some sound adjustment was possible for the rest of the run?

Whilst this sound issue did take something away from the pleasure that would have been gained from this production I must stress that this was a technical issue and that this should take nothing away from the fine performance from The Rattonians Youth Group.

Next stop for The Rattonians is The Mel Brooks Comedy Musical The Producers in the summer at the Congress Theatre. We are already booked and I make no apology for nicking the following poster from The Rattonians website (I'm sure they'll forgive me)and adding the Congress Theatre's phone number so you can book up early to see these talented young people.