Pal Joey

What a pleasure to see a musical with great songs. With music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Pal Joey, just like in olden times, sends you out of the theater humming its unforgettable songs like, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," which is given a brilliant, stunning rendition by one of our finest actresses: Stockard Channing.

Richard Greenberg's book for the show, based on John O'Hara's original book, gives us a lively view of a vanished time: the 1930's depression, the morality of the time, and a sexy con man, Joey, trying to make it in show business. Matthew Risch, as Joey, is a great dancer, and choreographer Graciela Daniele starts him off with some dazzling footwork and sprinkles samples of his agility and talent throughout the show.

As the show progresses, though, we find that he is missing a vital ingredient for this character: charm. For many women to be dazzled by him, it would take amazing charisma, magnetism, sensuality and a sense of sincerity as he plays his cons. It's not there, so it's really hard to identify with this solipsistic lout.

Martha Plimpton shines as a cast-off love; she's a real singer, and her number "Zip" is a showstopper. Jenny Fellner is a sympathetic ingénue with a lovely voice and feminine grace, and the entire cast is first rate. Channing is magnetic throughout as the rich older woman seduced by Joey.

The show is powerfully entertaining in the numbers, and they are spectacular. With a classic chorus of six beautiful girl singer-dancers and six good-looking boys performing as separate units to Daniele's innovative, zany choreography in the amazing costumes of William Ivey Long, which range from feathers, spangles, and headdresses to filmy black veiley to flowers - all have the flavor of an old Hollywood musical. The costumes go beyond costumes into surreal humor. It's all on the terrific, flexible, active set by Scott Pask. Director Joe Mantello has tied it all together with sensitivity, taste, and great timing.