John O’Hara’s Stories of Strippers & Hustlers Spring to Life

by Lynne Stevens

“Pal Joey” opens with an enthusiastic overture from a live band of syncopated seniors. We all breathe a collective swoon when the band plays the familiar juke box numbers “I Could Write a Book” and “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered.” These lush, elegant songs contrast with the chorus’ artless nightclub numbers.

In “Pal Joey,” a broke, uncouth lounge singer tries to start fresh in 1930s Chicago. Rude, crude Joey (cocky Nico Jaochico) plans to bluster his way to success.

The musical opened in 1940, looking back at the Great Depression. Joey Evans comes to Chicago to find work as an emcee at a night club. The show breaks the rom-com mold, and deals with adultery, manipulation, and desperation.

Joey does not waste any time hitting on the chorus girls. Gladys Bumps (tough Jarusha Ariel) has his number and warns the other girls. While Gladys has an ax to grind, other girls welcome his attention.

Joey tells tales. He invents a history to impress demur Linda English (charming Sarah Elizabeth Williams). But Linda soon realizes his primary concern is getting ahead. Joey sees an opportunity when predatory socialite Vera Simpson (sophisticated Maria Mikheyenko) walks into the club. Joey and Vera eyeball each other for their own ends. The 1930s Depression breeds strange bedfellows.

Vera recognizes Joey is a charming fake, but she likes that he won’t take any nonsense from her. Mikheyenko’s performance is stunning. Her singing is lovely and witty and her ad lib with a photo prop is hilarious.

The chorus girls at “Chez Joey” put on a terrific tongue in cheek burlesque number. They gracefully tease the audience with Sally Rand fans. Cookie (sassy Jetta Grace Martin) has some of the best lines and makes the most of a small part.

Val (enthusiastic Shelly McDowell) performs a realistic strip tease in the number “Zip!” Ava Byrd’s stunning costumes allow the girls to move while being provocative. And the wigs by Jeremy Letheule take us back to the late 30s.

Choreographer Rachelle King creates titillating numbers from tap to burlesque, and the dancers have a terrific time. Tenor Victor (Max Thorne) pulls out the stops in top hat and tails in “The Flower Garden of My Heart,” making it a mini-Busby Berkeley spectacle.

Although Jaochico seems too young, he and Mikheyenko manage to convince us they are attracted to each other. Each has something the other wants—a business deal.

Director Laura Morgan sticks to O’Hara’s stories about rich vs. poor. As talent agent Ludlow Lowell, Dan Kolodny gets involved in the risqué affair, leading to criminal hi-jinks.

“Pal Joey” slows down at times, but it’s a completely entertaining early musical. Altarena makes a nice parallel to the economic dilemma of young people today. Go see it to enjoy an era that speaks to us clearly now.

 

“Pal Joey” –adapted from stories by John O’Hara, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by John O’Hara, directed by Laura Morgan, musical direction by Armando Fox, choreography by Rachelle King, set design by Tom Curtin, costumes by Ava Byrd, wigs by Jeremy Letheule, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, California.  Info: altarena.org – to April 28, 2024.

Cast: Jarusha Ariel, Charles Evans, Joan Hong, Nico Jaochico, Dan Kolodny, Jetta Grace Martin, Shelly McDowell, Maria Mikheyenko, Max Thorne, and Sarah Elizabeth Williams.

Band: Armando Fox, Roberta Drake, John Greitzer, Audrey Jackson, Mike Wilson, and Adrienne Chambers.

Banner photo: The fan dancers at Club Joey. Photos: Grizzly De Haro