Dragon Review: The Pajama Game – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Published on: 4 Jun, 2025
Updated on: 4 Jun, 2025

Joe Burrell as Veron Hines Steve Gregson

By Ferenc Hepp

It’s the 1950s and a union strike at a pajama factory generates plenty of ‘steam heat’ in this retro-musical, an energetic romantic comedy.

Conditions at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory are anything but peaceful, as sparks fly between handsome new superintendent Sid Sorokin and feisty union rep ‘Babe’ Williams, while the workers strike for a 7.5 per cent cent pay increase.

Guildford School of Acting is celebrating 90 years of excellence and inspiring talent, and this production of The Pajama Game by the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre students in collaboration with BA (Hons) Theatre Production and MA Stage & Production Management students is a perfect example of why GSA has remained such a successful training institution, providing a perfect grounding for successful careers in the West End, national and international tours, and many other careers on and off stage.

The Company Steve Gregson

Vernon Hines (Joe Burrell) introduces us to the story. The costumes resemble the style of Oklahoma, with a yellow theme for the factory workers and an industrial steel beam surround set, which gets moved around by the cast throughout to represent the different settings. Both are designed by Stewart J Charlesworth and create perfect visuals to accompany the action on stage.

Samuel Levene as Sid Sorokin and Daizy Louize as Babe Steve Gregson

The scene changes are slick, and the actors remain in character throughout. Burrell has a lot of fun with his character and develops from a slightly restrained start to one of the highlights of the show.

The leading actors work well with the ensemble, and you can tell that this group has been together for three years, as the chemistry is evident throughout between all of them. However, there are definite highlights and stand out performances worth a mention.

Sid Sorokin, the handsome new factory superintendent, who falls in love with Babe, despite being on opposite sides of the dispute which the plot revolves around, is played by Samuel Levene.

This actor’s tenor voice is very special indeed. The whirlwind of their love story can be clearly seen in Levene’s eyes and through his emotions, and the quality of his singing is simply one of the best I have ever heard in a GSA show.

Daizy Louize as Babe has plenty of energy, combined with her vulnerability. The comic timing and characterisations by Beth O’Donnell as Gladys and Oliva-Grace Weaver as Mabel also have to be commended. They brought humour in abundance, adding to the overall variety and enjoyment of the piece.

“We want 7.5 percent!” Steve Gregson

Hasler is the head of the Pajama Factory who initially refuses the pay rise demanded by the workers. Charlie R. Miller has a good stage presence, although he could have made the character of Hasler either more fearsome, or more comical. It fell between the two, therefore losing some of the impact.

There are a number of upbeat and imaginatively choreographed ensemble numbers, with “Once a Year Day” being a highlight. It was very well received.

Beth O’Donnell as Gladys, Charlie R Miller as Hasler and Oliva-Grace Weaver as Mabel Steve Gregson

Direction is by Ian Talbot and the choreographer is Simon Hardwick. Both achieve a fantastic result which suit the style of the piece perfectly, and it is clear that the cast have the best time on stage. The accents are authentic and maintained very well throughout from every member of the cast.

There were some sound issues and a door that sometimes refused to open did take centre stage in a couple of scenes, but this did not spoil a very enjoyable evening, and everyone at Guildford School of Acting involved on and off stage can be very proud of another high quality production, which concludes these young people’s training and launches them into, hopefully, successful careers.

The Pajama Game runs until Saturday, June 7 and tickets are available via www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or 01483 440000.

Share This Post