Introduction

Abstract The introductory chapter establishes the significance of Pal Joey in its own time by delving into the more controversial aspects of the show and its reception. The unconventional qualities of Pal Joey begin with its setting (a “cheap” nightclub in the South Side of Chicago), its cynicism, and its sexually frank characters. Its brazen depiction of flawed people—desperately grasping for a more secure class position, for fame, for sex, or for love—divided critics; on one hand, Pal Joey was praised for its depiction of seemingly real-to-life people. On the other hand, critics questioned the merits of giving these characters time on stage. This chapter ends with a consideration of Pal Joey’s unsettled canonic status and its role in reinforcing aesthetic values that hardened in the mid-twentieth century, and still inform the reception of musical theater.