Review: La Cage Aux Folles

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Kelsey Grammar is no Brian Stokes Mitchell or Norm Lewis, but he does carry the role of Georges, the owner of the La Cage Aux Folles nightclub, in the current revival of La Cage Aux Folles, with flair. Brought to Broadway from the West End production by The Menier Chocolate Factory, this miniaturized La Cage is more intimate, seedier and more comfortable. It’s as if we, the audience, are actually the audience of the fictional St. Tropez drag club. The show even begins with Georges addressing the audience members, seated at tables in front of the stage, directly and coming down and kibitzing with patrons in the front rows.

The intimacy of this production is glorified by Olivier Award winning Douglas Hodge as Albin, Georges’ partner of 20 years and mega star of the club (in drag as Zaza). Mr. Hodge’s interpretation of Albin/Zaza is fresh and exciting. He captures Albin’s multiple emotions exactly, which range from unmanageable Diva to seemingly jilted wife to loving partner. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Hodge and he truly is the number one reason to see this show.

The other reasons are the supporting cast. Robin de Jesus (Jacob), although more New Yorican than French maid, does manage to steal each scene he is in, causing many of the evenings huge laughs. In the dual roles of the outdoor café owners, the Renauds and Jean-Michel’s potential in-laws, the Dindons, Fred Applegate and Veanne Cox are perfect and live their parts, so much so that, until I re-read the Playbill after the show, I didn’t realize it was the same actors playing both parts!

Christine Andreas (Jacqueline) never failed to command the stage every time she showed up as did Bill Nolte (Tabarro), master of the silent bit, evoking laughter with the raise of an eybrow or the wink of an eye. Chris Hoch (Francis) cleverly plays the stage manager, and Hanna’s whipping post, with the appropriate mix of submissiveness and flair.

Then there are Les Cagelles (named below). Pared down from twelve dancer drag queens in the previous incarnations of the show, these six boys had the power of two dozen. They sing and dance and skate (yes, skate) their way into your hearts, as the heart of La Cage Aux Folles. Each one has special skills that are deployed more and more as the show goes on. I could write a whole column on how wonderful and talented each one of these boys is on their own. With five of the six Cagelles making their Broadway debuts, all I can say is, watch out Broadway!

One issue I had with the otherwise perfect cast, including the remainder of the cast as the villagers and café patrons, was the young couple in love. Jean-Michel (played by newcomer, and recent University of Michigan grad, A.J. Shively, just wasn’t strong enough, or perhaps experienced enough, to play opposite mega-star Kelsey Grammar and the hurricane that is Douglas Hodge. And as Anne, Elena Shaddow never managed to convince me that she was so in love that she was oblivious to the obvious mayhem going on around her.

My only other gripe about this, otherwise near-perfect, production was the sound, designed by Jonathan Deans. I sometimes had trouble hearing Mr. Hodge’s dialogue, and this experience was shared by the people sitting around me as well. I am not sure if this was just a one-time glitch, or if this is a recurring issue (feel free to comment if you’ve seen the show).

Harvey Fierstein’s book, based on the original play by Jean Poiret, proves to be timeless especially in the midst of today’s battle over Gay marriage, and Jerry Herman’s wonderful score will still, as always, have you humming as you leave the theatre. Zaza’s gorgeous gowns and Les Cagelles very sexy and sometimes very skimpy costumes, are the work of genius Matthew Wright (Olivier Award nomination for Best Costume Design for La Cage, West End). The stage transforming from backstage to the upstairs apartment to the outdoor café is perfectly and cleverly designed by La Cage’s West End master, Tim Shortall. The magical colors that bring light to this production are the work of lighting designer Nick Richings, also from the West End production.

The small, for Broadway, eight-piece orchestra, cleverly placed in the two boxes on either side of the stage, and conducted by Todd Ellison (who also plays keyboards), was just the right size for the intimacy of this production, never overpowering the actors.

When you enter the world of this La Cage Aux Folles, be prepared to have “The Best of Times.”

The cast of La Cage Aux Folles: Kelsey Grammer, Douglas Hodge, Fred Applegate, Veanne Cox, Chris Hoch, Helena Shaddow, A. J. Shively, Christine Andreas, Robin De Jesus and Les Cagelles, Nick Adams, Nicholas Cunningham , Sean Patrick Doyle, Yurel Echezarreta, Terry Lavell and Logan Keslar. The production also includes Christophe Caballero, Todd Lattimore, Dale Hensley and Cheryl Stern.

Music-lyrics: Jerry Herman, Book: Harvey Fierstein, Director: Terry Johnson, Choreographer: Lynne Page, Scenic designer: Tim Shortall, Costume designer: Matthew Wright, Lighting designer: Nick Richings, Sound designer: Jonathan Deans

Production: Menier Chocolate Factory
Presented by Sonia Friedman Productions, David Babani, Barry and Fran Weissler and Edwin W. Schloss, Bob Bartner/Norman Tulchin, Broadway Across America, Matthew Mitchell, Raise the Roof 4, Richard Winkler/Bensinger Taylor, Laudenslager Bergere, Arlene Scanlan/John O'Boyle, Independent Presenters Network, Olympus Theatricals, Allen Spivak, Jerry Frankel/Bat-Barry Productions and Nederlander Presentations, Inc./Harvey Weinstein

Tickets for La Cage Aux Folles are available by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200, by visiting www.telecharge.com/lacage or at the Longacre Theatre box office, 220 W. 48th St., NY, NY.

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