Pal Joey Gets Super Cast

The upcoming Roundabout Theater revival of Pal Joey is quickly garnering must-see status by amassing a first-class cast.

As long rumored, Tony winner Christian Hoff will play Joey Evans, a role that he was truly born to play. The magnificent Stockard Channing will make her long-overdue return to Broadway as the bewitched, bothered, and bewildered Vera Simpson. Joining them will be two-time Tony nominee Martha Plimpton as Gladys Bumps, a role that will apparently be much more prominent once playwright Richard Greenberg is through with his adaptation.

Greenberg has his work cut out for him. As a show, Pal Joey is historically significant for numerous reasons, including using dance for dramatic purpose, as well as being the first significant use of an anti-hero (a main character who isn't exactly an angel) in a musical. Yeah, we see anti-heroes all the time now (Sweeney Todd, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Producers, Gypsy, etc.), but way back in 1940 it was a novelty, prompting critic Brooks Atkinson to famously ask "Can you draw sweet water from a foul well?" As significant as Pal Joey is, the book is creaky at best, and could certainly use a good tune-up.

The show will sport direction by Joe Mantello (Wicked, Assassins) and choreography by always-a-Tony- bridesmaid-never-a-Tony-bride Graciela Daniele. Performances for this limited engagement of Pal Joey begin in November, toward a December opening. As a Roundabout subscriber, I already have my ticket, and I'm greatly looking forward to seeing what this top-notch cast and first-rate production team are going to put together.