Fun and frolic under Music Circus tent
in The Pajama Game, July 20-26
THE PAJAMA GAME, starring Stephen Zinnato and Mary Gordon Murray, is Music Circus' second offering of the season. Playing under the tent, July 20-26, 1998.
CAST:
  Vernon Hines - Tom Flagg
  Sid Sorokin - Stephen Zinnato
  First Helper - Richard Bulda
  Second Helper - Matt Loehr
  Mabel - Patti Mariano
  Mr. Hasler - Jack Ritschel
  Gladys Hotchkiss - Mylinda Hull
  Catherine (Babe) Williams - Mary
    Gordon Murray
  Prez - Dink O'Neal
  Mae - Melissa Rain Anderson
  Brenda - Shannon Pritchard
  Poopsie - Kate Levering
  Max - Stephen Brewster
  Joe - Christopher Coyne
  Steam Heat Boys - K.C. Gussler,
    Matt Loehr
Mary Gordon Murray (left) as Babe Williams and Stephen Zinnato as Sid Sorokin in Sacramento Music Circus' production of THE PAJAMA GAME.

    After a 16 year absence, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 1955 - THE PAJAMA GAME - returned to the Sacramento Music Circus tent for a week-long run, July 20-26, 1998.
    Sacramento Light Opera Association's second offering of the summer season gave the audience a fun-filled frolic under the tent as it was love vs. the labor union - with love, of course, eventually winning out - or was it a compromise?
    THE PAJAMA GAME is the story of 7 1/2 cents. At least that's what the workers in the Sleep-Tite pajama factory think they deserve as an hourly raise.
    The new factory superintendent Sid Sorokin (Stephen Zinnato) is a company man through and through. He's determined to succeed in his job and won't let any labor unions, work slowdowns or strikes stand in his way. Unfortunately, there's one thing Sid didn't count on - falling in love with the head of the Grievance Committee, Babe Williams (Mary Gordon Murray.
    Babe, of course, also falls for Sid. But she is reluctant to admit it. Finally giving way to her feelings, the couple is a hot item for gossip in the company, but Sid and Babe are head over heels and nothing can get in their way...well, almost nothing.
    Sid is on the side of the company - Babe is on the side of the employees in the dispute over their 7 1/2 cent raise. When Babe admits jamming up her machine during a work slowdown, Sid fires her and a seemingly unmovable obstacle is thrown between the two lovers.
    Sid isn't about the give up on Babe, however. He finds a way to solve both his and Babe's problems, as well as the labor dispute that threatens to close down the company - compromise!
    Zinnato gives a great performance as the sexy super intendent who has all the women in the company swooning over him. His stage credits range from Gaston in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to Lancelot in CAMELOT and he has recently released This Is The Moment, a collection of Broadway songs. Stephen even has his own world wide web site at www.zinnato.com.
    Mary Gordon Murray, last seen under the Music Circus tent as the Devil in 1997's DAMN YANKEES, makes a triumphant return as Babe. She's perfect as the strong, loyal and determined Grivience Committee leader who must choose between her love of Sid - or all of her friends who have come to depend on her.
Mylinda Hull as Gladys with her jealous boyfriend Hines (Tom Flagg).

    As usual, the Music Circus' ensemble cast gave their usual fine performance. They are often overlooked in the glare from the main stars of the show, but are always appreciated by the audience for the energy and entertainment that they add to the production.
    Also giving tremendous performances were Mylinda Hull as Gladys and Tom Flagg as Hines. This pair was as interesting to watch as anything else on stage - both together and individually. Flagg did some between scene narrations and played the jealous boyfriend of Gladys perfectly.
    Hull appeared as Lola in last year's DAMN YANKEES and played the prissy , but sexy, Gladys as if the role was made for her. The audience loved her "Steam Heat" song and dance with the Steam Heat Boys (K.C. Gussler and Matt Loehr), and later in the "Hernando's Hideaway" scene with Zinnato, as Sid got Gladys drunk in order to get the Sleep-Tite ledger key away from her.     THE PAJAMA GAME continues under the Music Circus tent through Sunday, July 26 and is followed by CABARET, July 27-Aug. 2.
    Performances are at 8 p.m. through Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are priced at $22 to $40 depending on time and seat location and are on sale at the Music Circus box office, 1419 H Street or by phone at (916) 557-1999. Tickets may also be purchased at all BASS Ticket outlets (916) 923-BASS.
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