Dan Cirucci: Pal Joey Still Charms

Monday, February 23, 2009

Pal Joey Still Charms

Over the weekend we took a quick trip to Manhattan to catch the Roundabout Theatre Company's wonderful new production of the Rogers and Hart classic Pal Joey.

Set in Chicago in the late 1930s, Pal Joey is the story of Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub. Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English, to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she’ll set him up in business.

The original tale of Joey was written by the great American novelist John O'Hara. For this production the book has been re-written and updated by Richard Greenberg. But the basic story of the cad who is Joey is still here.

If you're thinking that the Broadway show is like the old movie musical of the same name starring Frank Sinatra, think again. The show is darker, more cynical and, in many ways much more current. Pal Joey was way ahead of its time.

In fact, if there hadn't been a musical named Pal Joey there probably never would have been musicals named Chicago or Cabaret. Pal Joey is of the same genre but it arrived on Broadway decades before the others. It set the pace.

Stockard Channing is wonderful as the older woman who "befriends" Joey. Channing channels Lauren Bacall to produce a Vera Simpson who is every bit as smoky, sophisticated and wry as Mrs. Robinson. Martha Plimpton as Gladys is funny, bawdy, rowdy and irresistible. And, Matthew Risch as Joey is a clever charmer who never stops focusing on Number One.

The Rogers and Hart songs are great and it is a joy to see conductor Paul Gemignani leading the orchestra.

Still, if you want to see this fine new production of an American musical classic you'll have to hurry. The Roundabout production at Studio 54 must close on March 1.

Hurry, hurry!

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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