Neglected Musicals has been presenting shows in a stripped-down format for 15 years in Sydney - most famously, they had a go at "Calamity Jane" in 2016, giving a production that is currently touring in revial again, but also mixes of classic, modern, better-and-lesser known shows that have not had a mainstage revival in a while - in this case, a 70 year old classic dealing with romance against the background of a labour disptue at a pajama (or, to spell it properly, pyjama) factory in Iowa. It's got lots of jokes, lots of memorable songs and a few big dance numbers, and offers some great roles siezed in this performance by the cast. The format (cast carries scripts with them and has one days rehearsal to learn the songs and the choreography with an accompaniment of a sole pianist), allows for a reasonably bare-bones presentation, though clearly in the last 15 years they've learned how to find time to appropriately costume the cast and polish up the choreography a tad.
Certainly by the final matinee the scripts-in-hand were largely formalities, with the performers confident in their roles - leads Zoe Gertz and Drew Weston in particular giving confident, brash, 50's performances completely in style, and strong support from Catty Hamilton as the ditzy Gladys, P Tucker Worley as the tight-wound time and motion man Hines, MacKenzie Dunn as the quippy Mabel and Dean Vince as the clutzily lustful Prez. Director/Choreographer Lisa Callaghan keeps the production flowing on a stage with nothing more than a few chairs here and there, and Michael Tyack musical-directs and plays the score with flourish and verve.
This is a fine quick-and-dirty format to catch a show you may have missed - while yes, it isn't quite a full production, it's got the cast, the choreography and the costumes in place - only the expanded orchesttrations and the sets are missing and, if this production is any guide, it's a good way to catch a show I've not seen before.
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