This is the year of strikes, both in the educational field and onstage.

In April at Spectrum Community School Theatre, Belmont secondary is producing the musical The Pajama Game, based on Richard BisselB次元官网网址檚 novel, 7 1/2 Cents.

The Pajama Game focuses on Sid Sorokin, who is hired to work in a pajama factory going through labour issues. The employees demand a raise of seven and a half cents, which their boss, B次元官网网址極ld ManB次元官网网址� Hasler, refuses to give them. Despite being on opposite sides in the labour debate, with an imminent strike looming, Sid eventually falls in love with the head of the grievance committee, Katherine B次元官网网址楤abeB次元官网网址� Williams.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had Pajama Game on my radar; on my desk; for a few years now and there are a few reasons why I chose it,B次元官网网址� says the proud director, Melissa Young.

B次元官网网址淣umber one, itB次元官网网址檚 a great musical for a large cast, and there are tons of big songs and dances in the show. The music is really a lot of fun and itB次元官网网址檚 really well-written. The second reason? it just seemed to work out this way that The Pajama Game is about a strike at a pajama factory. And standing on the picket lines (last fall), it made me think about this musical again.B次元官网网址�

Although it was several months late in starting production, Young has a lot of faith that the cast will be able to pull off this massive show.

B次元官网网址淲e have a strong, committed group this year, and everyone thus far has been working really hard. But itB次元官网网址檚 gonna [sic] be lot of work,B次元官网网址� she laughed. B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楥ause thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of dancing.B次元官网网址�

This is my third year in the Musical Theatre program offered at Belmont, and it has definitely been advantageous to someone who aspires to be an actress. Ms. Young runs a pretty hardcore production and the results are always stunning.

Two years ago, with some amusement on my part, my grandmother had been slightly reluctant to come to see Fiddler on the Roof, because it was a high school production, thinking they are typically of very poor quality. She was amazed by how professional and well-put-together the show was, and has come to see all of our shows since.

The play opens with the lyric, B次元官网网址淭he pajama game is the game weB次元官网网址檙e inB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� and this year, we hope you can be in the game too.

Briannah Willoughby is a student in the writing program at Belmont secondary.

The Pajama Game runs April, 22, 23 and 25 at Spectrum Community School.