the pajama game Flashcards
when did the pajama game begin on broadway and who directed it
1954
george abbot and jerome robbins
when was the pajama game made into a film and who directed it
1957
george abbot and stanley donen
what is pajama game about
strikes at the sleep tite pajama factory in iowa because they refuse a 7 1/2 cent pay rise
the superintendant sid sorokin falls for the union rep babe williams
origins
fosses first full choreographed show
based on the 1953 novel 7 & 1/2 cent by richard bissell and george abbot
links to 1950s american politics - rossevelt formed a coalition which meant that unions were supported and could ask for more of a pay rise. increased employment meant that the unions could support workers a lot more
influences
vaudville - pratfalls and double takes
working class people
american politics
charlie chaplin - hand movements with minic factory work ( tightening a rench ) - slapstick comedy
personal life and training
collaberations with abbott and robbins
jack cole - theatrical jazz
style of steam heat
sexually suggestive hip thrusts however it contrasts with chicago in that it does not sexualise women - it is non gender spesific
vaudville hummour of truned in feet and hunched shoulders - fosse was naturally pigeon toed
syncopated sound effects sound like machinary working
black outfit with white golves remanicant of charlie chaplin
mechanical movements refelct the strain the workers are under
dancers wear hats because fosse was baulding
impacts
fosse gets his first tony award
they get another tony for best revival in 2006
revived in 1973 and 2006 by roundabout theatre company
enabled fosse to collaborate with abbott again on damn yankees 1955
steam heat motf - hat movement - industrial action
In the section Steam Heat from the musical Pajama Game the three performers make industrial sounds with relate back to the factory setting of the story line. When they make a hissing sound they also move their hat. For example with their bodys facing stage right the slowly push the hats out from their chests. Equalling in another part of the dance they push their hats up off their heads
hat movement analysis
This displays the influence of industrial action in the musical because the sound and movement is reminiscent of the factory noises of clanging metal and escaping steam. The industrial action in this musical is influenced by american politics of the 1950s during which president roosevelt had formed a coalition government which gave unions more power to ask for pay rises. as well as this the escaping steam noises which complements the choreographed hat movements could be seen to represnt the pressure that then union members feel they work under thus the reason for the strike
steam heat motif - turned in feet - his own insicurites
Three dancers perform a bouncy movement where they knock their knees in and out by pivoting their feet and shifting across the stage.th They do this in unison with both the male and female dancers doing the same thing.
turned in feet analysis
turned in feet is a choreographic choice that fosse made in order to diguise his own pigeon toed.
also the movement being done by the male and female dancers is significant becuase it contrasts fosses later works such as chicago when women perfomed overly sexualised movements
