You might think The Pajama Game, presented by the Marquis Players, is a typical “run of the mill” musical. You know the type : music, lights, a union dispute over a 75¢ raise for workers down at the local pajama factory, a little dancing. Does one of those sound a bit off? Perfect, because there is something a bit off about The Pajama Game, something delightfully, hilariously, and touchingly off.

It’s 1954 and the situation down at Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory has become jocosely hostile. Labor and management are at each other’s throats, driven apart by wage disagreements. In this time of disruption and unsettlement there can only be two cures: romance and a great musical score, both of which make for a musical that as Ally Shumeyko ‘14, President of Marquis Players, puts it “is high energy with lots of dancing.”

Rachel Hamilton ‘14, Director of The Pajama Game, adds that audiences should arrive at the production, “expecting to have fun.”

As director, Hamilton’s requisite duties director include show aesthetic and design as well as actor engagement. For her, the show’s production began all the way back in December during winter break, in her bedroom, where she would toy with blocking and design.

For both Hamilton and Shumeyko, the play signifies a light at the end of the tunnel, an ambivalent milestone, mixed with both accomplishment and bittersweet nostalgia. This will be the final Marquis Players production for the pair, both of whom have led illustrious careers within the organization.

Yet this has in no way tainted the performance for the two. “We want to showcase what we’ve worked on as seniors, this having been our last production,” Shumeyko said.

The cast and crew number around 70 students who have been redefining the word “industrious” since their return from winter break, holding rehearsals that often surpass four hours and last deep into the night. This type of dedication attests to craft, and is what assures Shumeyko and Hamilton that their production will be a hit.

So if you’re sick and tired of the boring, formulaic musical, the Marquis Players have something for you, and if one had to guess as to the requirements for audience attire, pajamas are recommended.

All proceeds from the show go to local charities.

The Pajama Game is running from April 3-5 in the Williams Art Center Theater. Check www.lafayettestudentnews.com for a review of the show tonight. The April 3, 4 performances will commence at 8 pm. The April 5 performance is a matinee performance at 3 pm. Tickets will be sold in Lower Farinon everyday at lunch until April 3.