Share Your Pal Joey Experience
One of our blog readers made a second visit to see Pal Joey, and here are her observations:
** The choreography may have been tweeked a bit…although I cannot say all the dancing was spectacular, it was quite enjoyable - especially dancing on the stairs. (Although I feel Christian Hoff was better on the stairs!)
** Costume glitches were all taken care of.
** The major improvement I was keenly seeking was the chemistry between ‘Vera’ and ‘Joey’…I felt that Stockard Channing did not feel comfortable with Christian…if Vera is supposed to be infatuated with this young song and dance man, I want to see that exhibited throughout the show…now seeing Matthew Risch & Stockard was a completely different FEEL..Stockard seemed to sincerely enjoy touching, embracing and kissing ‘Joey’…my personal thought was that Stockard feels much more in control with a very young protege, sort of a boy-toy!
** Matt’s dancing in the beginning was right on, but he does sweat profusely. The singing was much the same for ‘Vera’ and ‘Joey’.
** Martha Plimpton’s performance throughout the show is still very enticing…and Jenny Fellner still mezmerizing. They are both key characters to the success of this run of Pal Joey.
** Daniel Marcus’s (Ludlow) solo in the second act was a shining star.
** Matthew has clearly captured the “JERK” attitude that ‘Joey” is supposed to exhibit.
** I must say that the whole cast was more than gracious to pose for photos and sign autographs after the show.
The Pal Joey Blog invites you to share your Pal Joey experience! Leave a comment and let us know how you enjoyed the show. If you have pictures you want to share, send them to admin at paljoeyblog.com, and include captions if you like.
A big thank you to Charly O’Clarit. She combined her pictures with those of Lucy Rochetti and Lori Leone to create this great slide show. Thank you, ladies!
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Fan Shawna Blake with Stockard Channing
Shawna, a self-proclaimed Stockard enthusiast, shared this photo from her fabulous evening at Pal Joey. See comments below to read about Shawna’s experience.
jim petrecca | Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
I SEE ANOTHER TONY COMING CHRISTANS WAY……….I JUST FEEL IT, WHAT A PERFORMER! AND OF COURSE HOWARD IS THE GREATEST WRITER OF THEM ALL, HOPE YOU HELP WITH THE FUTURE MOVIE SCRIPTWRITING OF JERSEY BOYS “THE MOVIE”
Amanda | Nov 17, 2008 | Reply
I wish I could get to NY to see this. Christian looks so wonderful, and everything seems so great. You all look like you’re having a great time. Thanks for the pictures.
Liz | Nov 18, 2008 | Reply
Well, I can’t comment on my own experience, since I haven’t seen the show yet, but I did want to share an excerpt from a blog post I came across - theatre-queen@blogspot.com -
“…we then headed to Studio 54 for Pal Joey, probably my favorite out of everything we saw. The set design was great, and Christian Hoff, Stockard Channing, and Martha Plimpton were all fabulous, particularly Martha’s performance of Red Hot Woman. Studio 54 is kind of an annoying theatre, but our seats were good and I put in an advance order for an intermission cocktail, which kept me in a good mood. Pal Joey should be in top contention come Tony time…”
Yay! I couldn’t find a way to contact him to ask permission, so “Thank you Greg Harms (THE theatre queen).”
Can’t wait to read more people’s good thoughts on the show!
Liz | Nov 19, 2008 | Reply
Love Stockard’s hat. Great pictures!
Gary | Nov 19, 2008 | Reply
Great pics of everybody! Fun night, huh?
Lulu | Nov 20, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the sharing the pictures! I’ll be there tomorrow night! Can hardly wait!
Audrey | Nov 21, 2008 | Reply
I look forward to sharing a few of my experiences from seeing Christian in Pal Joey last night (11/20). But until time permits that, I just want to say that I really, really enjoyed Christian’s performance and the whole show, in general!
Howard | Nov 21, 2008 | Reply
We are all anxious, Audrey. And I hear the world-famous Lulu accompanied you. Can’t wait for your thoughts. Please don’t keep us in suspense too long!!
Audrey | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
Just six days after Pal Joey opened in previews, Spencer & I were able to see Pal Joey, thanks to the ticket savvy-ness of my Broadway wise friend, Lulu (and her husband, John, who had endeared himself to me WAY before this first meeting… for his sense of humor plus that selfless drive to NYC last February, when flights were cancelled and Lulu NEEDED to get to a concert at Lincoln Center!).
The excitement began before getting to 54th Street, when we ducked inside the candy store around the corner, to warm up (ok… to get some M&M’s, too). A couple women, who were speaking with another customer, a man who works in the area, were also exited to be heading to Pal Joey. I got talking with the man, who said that he was waiting for a complimentary ticket (for Pal Joey AND Jersey Boys, he said) and I was reminded that sometimes local employees can, on rare occasion, get a ticket to shows, thus creating another word of mouth recommendation.
Fast forward 10 minutes… Lulu and I are posing with the Pal Joey marquee outside and we overheard women confirming with a theater employee, how to find the stage door afterwards. The excitement overtook me as I walked up to the point where you show your ticket- there was the Cast Board and I had to take a photo of the board with Christian’s name. I guess the ticket taker DIDN’T think I needed that picture because he politely came over and asked me to delete it- in front of him. I wanted to say “Hey, I thought you don’t own me until I give you my ticket.” But I decided to say “No problem.”
I liked the theater and right away took the advice of Linda and headed to the less sought-after, upstairs restroom. Good move! While speaking of logistics, the bar had an array of drinks with names like “Charming” Pal Joey, Drink of Iniquity, Bewitched, Zip, and Romantic Rivals. The concession sheet also offered a deal if you order 2 drinks before AND during intermission gets you the second glasses at half price. The last house comment I’ll add is- be aware that whereas the August Wilson has countless cushioned ‘booster seats’ for the vertically challenged, the Roundabout Theater only have three for the entire facility. We were in the last row of the orchestra and didn’t have to worry about any folks behind us. If you want one, ask an usher EARLY.
The show was just wonderful. I was not familiar with the songs or the story like so many others are. Thanks to Howard’s Pal Joey DVD, I did get to see the movie a few weeks before. Forgive the compare game, but the show was so much more interesting, and frankly- clearer than the movie, in my opinion. The scenery was impressive and although the costumes were distinctive, as showgirl costumes can be, I really enjoyed the era clothing worn by Stockard and Christian.
I thoroughly enjoyed Christian’s performance- his acting, his energetic dancing and his singing, which we really didn’t get a chance to hear too much in Jersey Boys.
Afterwards, we headed to the back of the theater (where the concession stand was) and turned left to get out a door, now open to expedite everyone’s exit. Hanging out at the stage door was very, very cold! A couple people had Pal Joey posters; I learned they had gotten them inside (of course!) and we took the usual photos while waiting.
We had the opportunity to meet an actor, who sounded more like a fan, as he spoke highly of Christian’s acting and more importantly- Christian’s character and uncommon spirit. The celebrity sighting this night- Al Sapienza www.alsapienza.com)!! After spending some time talking, we concluded the obvious- great guys have a way of finding one another. Al was on a short trip to NYC after an onstage incident in the pre-Broadway run of Dirty Dancing sent him to the hospital. He made a point to see his friend starring in Pal Joey, before heading back to his role of Jake Houseman in Toronto, where the show will run until it heads to the former Hairspray theater on 52nd Street in 2009. Sapienza’s extensive stage, film and television career has run the gamut- most recently playing the part of Mikey Palmice in The Sopranos. (I must say that my daughter will be excited to hear that he was also the doorman in Pretty Woman, though!) If his level of success makes some actors rather unapproachable, this man has defied that outcome. I now have another career to enjoy watching.
I want to thank Christian for his warm greetings on such a cold night. I’m glad to see that he didn’t really head off to Vegas like he said for almost four years! We selfishly love you here in New York City .
Howard | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
Audrey, I’ve been waiting all day and night for your review, and you finally come through. Nice job!
Yeah, Studio 54 has a problem with the photos. Christian and I posed in the lobby, and were directed outside rather quickly. Liked the advice re the vertically challenged…you don’t think I could request a screwdriver from the usher to remove the armrest for us horizontally challenged folk, do you?
Glad you made it in, though, from your recounting of your youthful escapades at this venue. Lucky they didn’t have computers back then (you do go way back, right Audrey??), or you woulda been outta there in about 12 seconds!!
Upstairs restroom is a good idea. The men’s room on the bottom floor makes the airline restrooms seem spacious.
We did see some great dancing from Christian in “Jersey Boys”, but not enough singing. That was a treat, and I especially enjoyed his duets. Our own “Fred Astaire” also bumped up his dancing a bit…do we have the next “Dancing with the Stars” champ here? Somehow, though, I can’t picture Stockard as Ginger Rogers! Maybe if she became a blonde??
Also liked the new storyline differing from the movie. The Gladys Bumps character was instrumental there.
Nice encounter with Al, too, Audrey, and with Christian as always at the stage door. So you’re the stage door type, Audrey, and I’m more the Stage Deli type…but we can do both, since the Stage Deli is right around the corner.
To Liz above, Stock loves the hats….remember the one she wore in the debut episode of “Stockard Channing in Just Friends”…can’t wait to see her in the Easter Bonnet Special this year!
Thanks Audrey for a great synposis. I’m now waiting for Lulu’s. You ask two different Pal Joey and Christian Hoff fans…you get two different versions. Lulu, what say you??
Audrey | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
Al Sapienza really was a NICE guy- this doesn’t fall under that category of ‘global praise’. Check out his vast resume, too. Some people just have it (you know, the Rick Elice type). The fact that he holds Christian in such high regard says a lot about him.
I forgot to mention my new buddy Lawrence, who was managing the door scene very adeptly that night. I’m not sure if he’s there every day but be sure to say HI when you go. I’ll post pictures soon of Al, Lawrence and the rest of us,
admin | Nov 24, 2008 | Reply
Susie (Jersey Boys Blog) sent me over some pictures she received from a CH/JB fan. One of them is Christian and Al. I’ll add them to the top slide show above.
Thanks for sharing, Audrey.
Audrey | Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
I see you’ve added the photo of Al & Christian. I’ve learned that Al is also starring in Brotherhood as Mayor Frank Panzerella Sunday nights on Showtime.
Art | Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
The slideshow looks great. With all these comments about Christian (who absolutely deserves the compliments) I’d like plug how great Martha Plimpton’s energetic performence of Gladys Bumps was. I had no idea she had such lungs! Quite a treat!
Liz | Dec 5, 2008 | Reply
Love the latest slide show. That’s so cool that Martha’s dad was at the stage door with her! I looked at the picture and thought…I know that guy..then it hit me.
And that’s a beautiful profile shot of Stockard - her publicity people would probably love to have it!
Howard | Dec 5, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, these latest were nice slides; the years do seem to have been kind to Keith “I’m Easy” Carradine. Nice to see some of the supporting players as well. “Fan Luisa” looks as if she’s in seventh heaven with Matthew!
Ron | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply
Stockard looks great in these. They should use them for her publicity.
Liz | Dec 11, 2008 | Reply
What a difference a day makes….or a few days….or a different perspective….whatever the case, shows have preview time so that they can work out the kinks. Priscilla’s take on Christian and Stockard’s chemistry (on the first preview night) was: I felt that Stockard Channing did not feel comfortable with Christian…
I saw this comment Levi Asher’s blog - litkicks.com: Hoff really can’t tap dance — I saw it for myself — but who cares? Joey Evans is supposed to be a hack nightclub entertainer, not (hmm) Gene Kelly. I liked the way Hoff inhabited the role, and based on this as well as on the chemistry I saw between Hoff and Channing at the mid-November preview, I believe the producers are making a mistake in letting the actor go. Stockard Channing seems to hint at the same thing in this New York Times interview….And if the new guy doesn’t work out, I hope they’ll bring Christian Hoff back for a second chance. “Bad foot” and all.
I’m with Levi!
John | Dec 12, 2008 | Reply
I would like to start by saying that I am writing this becasuse i feel it is important as an audience member to let our true feelings be known. And honestly, After attending “Pal Joey”, I felt like i was cheated out of my money, Matthew Risch gave one of the most amateurish and inept performances I have ever seen on Broadway, nothing but visible effort. While it is a fair defense to say he’s young and inexperienced, that is hardly an acceptable excuse, as the audiences have paid a good amount of money to see this great musical, so allowing people to pay as much as $100 for a performance one could see at a local high school is fairly shameful.
tony | Dec 20, 2008 | Reply
First of all, I was highly entertained by PJ. Now, my quibbles are with Greenberg’s script and plotting especially that sleazy blackmail stuff - ugh! Who’s to like when the 2 leads who are morally questionable at best, counter with a homophobic threat. I mean it switches your sympathies to the blackmailers. Also, ZIP was such a disappointment. Why weren’t the lyrics more accessible to today’s audience. My date had no idea the song was about a Gypsy Rose Lee interview. Don’t know if I would have known except that I am super familiar with Pal Joey in most of its forms. Plimpton was good but undercut by lousy staging and the obscure lyrics, of course. I happen to know that Lorenz Hart wrote a slew of lyrics for ZIP that are archived. I’m sure Joe & Richard could have put together enough lyrics appropriate to the 1930’s and yet, accessible to 2008. Hart was known to write huge sets of lyrics for all his songs that never got used initially. In fact, BB&B has verse after verse that goes on for 12 minutes if sung in totality. Ella Fitzgerald has a spectacular 8 + minutes version of BB&B that takes you right through to Vera’s lost illusions with Joey. I liked Joey - he’s very talented but at this stage in his career lacks star quality - essential for Joey if he must pull off a successful cad. Vera, on the other hand was terrific, Stockard Channing’s BB&B was so well acted that a prettily sung version couldn’t possibly convey Vera’s soul. Unlike the reviews I’ve read, I like the noir quality of this production. I like dirgey, Mr. Brantley! Also, while strolling to Kodama after PJ, my date and I discussed how PJ or at least this PJ reminded us of CABARET. Joey is Sally Bowles and MC rolled up into one. The chorus are the Kit Kat girls etc. I like the overall production - looks great. Hope there will be a cast album if just for Channing’s interpretation of BEWITCHED BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED.
Lauren | Jan 6, 2009 | Reply
Well, the experience I’m going to share has nothing to do with the show itself, but actually with my visit to the stage door afterward. I’m not a huge stage door person, but I was curious to see if “the Stockard” was as icy as I imagined, and if Martha was as nice and funny.
I’ll preface by saying it was Thursday, Dec. 18th, the “official” opening night, so I’m not sure what was going on inside the theater after the show. But the stage door is set up with two separate sides, so I was a little worried that someone I wanted to see might go the other way and I’d miss them. So I kind of moved to the middle and was told in no uncertain terms that it was one side or the other. Oh, yeah, have to keep the mob of 10 at bay!
A few people wandered out, none I recognized until Robert Clohessy came out. He was great. Chatted with us and was very nice. Then my husband noticed a familiar looking girl talking with some people on the sidewalk and asked who she was…it was Jenny Fellner, just coming out to talk to her friends then hurry back in. But she did stop and talk with us and pose for a pic. She was very sweet.
Then we waited and waited and waited….it was very cold, and by now there were only a handful of people left. Stockard came out, looked perturbed by the fact she had to come out for such a few people, smiled, signed autographs and went back inside.
And we waited…there were five of us left. Martha finally came out and I spoke with her a moment, then offered to take her pic with 2 gentlemen who had been waiting patiently. Then my husband asked if he could take her picture, she complied, but before he could actually snap the photo, she turned and walked away, saying under her breath (but loud enough for everyone to hear) “I don’t have all day”, and turned and went back inside. Granted it was “opening” night, and they were probably anticipating being slammed in the press, but there was no excuse for that.
If Matthew Risch made an appearance after that, I didn’t hang around to see him.
Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by the Jersey Boys stage door “etiquette”. Perhaps I just picked a bad night for the cast, because I haven’t heard of anyone else having such an experience, but it certainly did leave a bad taste in my mouth.
(I did enjoy the show, by the way, and thought Risch did a fine job, considering the circumstances. Would much rather have seen Christian Hoff, and I’m sure would have had a totally different stage door memory.)
Violet | Jan 6, 2009 | Reply
Lauren, this was almost exactly my experience, except that Stockard was friendlier and did pose for a picture at the stage door. Martha was downright rude and walked by without even acknowledging the fans (maybe there were all of six of us). Didn’t see Jenny come out at all nor Matthew but the guard told us that Matthew had left early via this same stage door all wrapped up in winter clothes and scarves, inferring he preferred not to be noticed. I do think they needed Christian–I saw Jersey Boys, never went to the stage door, but everyone said what a gracious gentleman he is–to show them how to treat the fans. Some reviews indicate Martha is the highlight of a generally mediocre performance….I think she’s let the “stardom” go to her head!
Lauren | Jan 6, 2009 | Reply
Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Violet, but glad to hear it wasn’t just me. I don’t understand it. Don’t these actors realize that the people who stand at the stage door are the same ones who just spent $100 and 2-1/2 hours on them?
Ron | Jan 6, 2009 | Reply
Well, I’ll have to say that this Blog has devoted a lot of valuable space to Miss Martha “I’m Too Busy for Fans” Plimpton. She was good in the show but mainly because of ZIP, which would have been a showstopper no matter who had performed it.
Catherine, why don’t you focus from now until the end of the run on the unsung heroes of Pal Joey.
Ana | Feb 5, 2009 | Reply
For posters who are disappointed that Stockard is not available at the stage door always…my experience (from a run long ago- but clearly this run is a demanding one as well) - she barely has time to go home and eat. ::shrug::
I know her to be a consummate professional and a genuine, kind, human being. My experience is of seeing a brilliant artist, a consummate professional, who cares deeply about the work, and who also has quite literally a who’s who in theatre and film BACKSTAGE every night. Here, and in London.
My experience is also that she is a human being and a warm, kind person. One has to set limits- and personally I understand she needs to prioritize- in order to do the brilliant work I and Broadway and London have seen onstage for decades at this point. (She doesn’t want to tell us when she did “Joe Egg” - but that Tony was earned -I saw it archived at TOFT) - she and Jim Dale were BRILLIANT, SHE was brilliant.
A consummate actor’s actor who cares DEEPLY about her craft and has immense talent.
Liz | Feb 6, 2009 | Reply
Ana, you mention “Joe Egg”. Have you seen the old post on this blog http://paljoeyblog.com/archives/354) that talks about this? It states that Stockard won the 1985 Tony for that show. There’s also a stage pic.
monica | Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
I saw “Pal Joey” last Saturday night (January 31st). It was an incredible experience for me all around. I thought the performances were excellent. And we hung out at the stage door afterward. We were just kind of hanging around and chatting with some of the other people out there, when suddenly there was Stockard Channing. She was awesome. I’d heard about other people having not so great stage door encounters, but Stockard was totally beautiful and gracious and accomodating. She signed autographs and posed for pictures and didn’t seem at all bothered.
Ana | Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Liz thanks for posting that elsewhere, I hadn’t seen your post ( as you know).
Monica- that is good to hear, glad you enjoyed the show as much as I did, and that you had a good experience after. I’ve also seen it recently and agree, it is in terrific shape ( the show). I don’t want it to close yet! ::sniff:: But I am glad it is here, and here until March 1.
Liz | Feb 9, 2009 | Reply
Glad you had such a good experience, Monica. I won’t be able to make it back to see the show, but as closing time nears, I’m wishing more and more that I could. I’ll just have to live vicariously (sp?) through those of you who are kind enough to post here ;~)
I guess the stage door experience is hit or miss, depending on the day, the way the show went, how everyone is feeling…glad yours was good.
Was everyone present? I’m dying to hear a story about an understudy! I know Lisa Gajda’s had some chances to go on, and I can’t imagine filling those shoes - especially for Zip. I wish someone would post something!!!
admin | Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
Posted by admin
I dragged my cousin all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, to New York City just to catch a glimpse of my favorite actress on stage. It was a lofty goal of mine to meet Ms. Stocakrd Channing, whom I love and adore. But, with the aid of my cousin, I did get to meet her, get her autograph and my picture taken with one of the greatest women in the world! Stockard made the show for me. I was awed by her presence, and mesmerized by her talent. I wish to share the photo that I got taken with Vera Simpson/Abbey Bartlet/Betty Rizzo… on a night that I shall never forget!
Shawna R. Blake
Shawna | Feb 14, 2009 | Reply
I also love that Stockard always wears hats. It’s just too adorable. I would like to wear hats too! I guess I just wanna be just like Stockard when I grow up (wait, is 32 considered grown? I hope not because my mother’s mantra is “Stockard Channing can HAVE you!”). Meeting her was the best, except now my life is back to being pretty dull.
I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and believe that I got more than my money’s worth. I found each of the prime actors very entertaining (I loved Matthew and Martha). I liked it so much that I would actually go and see ‘Pal Joey’ again, if given the time and opportunity. I rave about it to everyone I meet. And, Stockard isn’t a vocalist, but I feel that she does extremely well, and I am actually disappointed when she doesn’t sing in any production. I was thrilled when I learned that she would be singing in ‘Pal Joey’. All in all I found the entire production to be very well done. The costumes were excellent (and I am not just referring to Stockards wonderful decolatage’, either), and the music was very engaging. It was also very sexy and seductive, yet not over the top. I even loved Jenny Fellner, even though I am severly jealous that she gets to share a stage with my girl Stockard. I hope they do a remake of the movie and a la ‘Six degrees of Seperation’, the stipulation is that Stockard shall play Vera. Okay, well, it’s nice to dream, isn’t it?
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