LA CAGE AUX FOLLES to January 2010.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
book by Harvey Fierstein music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman.
Playhouse Theatre,London,WC2N 5DE to 10th January 2009
Mon – Sat 7:30pm. Matinee: Sat & Thu 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 45 min One interval.
TICKETS: 0870 060 6631
www.menierchocolatefactory.co.uk
Review: Geoff Ambler 4th November 2008.
Make this moment last because the best of times is at The Playhouse now.
Transferring exceptional shows into the West End is what Southwarks Chocolate Factory has become seriously adept at. Terry Johnson’s La Cage, the first time around, was one of the finest musicals to be seen this year but with a few significant cast changes their transfer to the Playhouse Theatre has quite a lot to live up to.
Denis Lawson replaces Quast and brings new qualities to Georges, club compére and long term partner of La Cage's star Albin and while Lawson provides the witty riposte, it is the return of Douglas Hodge’s Albin who lifts the show beyond mere greatness and who dazzles and delights whenever on stage. Hodge defines Albin and it’s hard not to sit in raptures at every mannerism, glance, inflection, nuance of his aging transvestite, who lives his life embracing theatrical drama and beautiful emotion.
La Cage is an enriching piece of theatre. With music like 'I Am What I Am', 'Look Over There' and 'The Best of Times' you leave the theatre able to recall any of the songs from the show to hum, except you can’t just hum them; buoyed by the night club excitement, the athleticism and sadomasochistic grace of the dancers, the heartfelt emotions and the elegant campy glee that pervades everything, these songs deserve to be sung at volume, and sung all the way down the Embankments escalators.
It’s not all about music and dance though, La Cage deals with and revels in its family relationships, both those traditional and not so, it touches hearts as well as energising them. Jason Pennycooke reprises and relishes in his ultra-camp maid, delivering plenty of impure glee.
Twain advises "Pay no attention to the papers, but watch the audience" and not on a press night, not a night filled with friends and agents, just on a plain cold, drizzling Tuesday evening in town, the audience rose unprompted and cheered, lifted by the feel great music, lifted by Douglas Hodges prima-transvestite and a gamut of performers who strut their spangly pants and deliver one of the best nights out you can have with musical theatre.
Georges: Denis Lawson.
"Les Cagelles":
Chantal: Nolan Frederick.
Hanna: Nicholas Cunningham.
Mercedes: Darren Carnall.
Bitelle: Gary Murphy.
Angelique: Dane Quixall.
Phaedra: Ben Bunce.
Francis: Adrian Der Gregorian.
Jacob: Jason Pennycooke.
Albin: Douglas Hodge.
Jean-Michel: Stuart Neal.
Anne: Alicia Davies.
Jacqueline: Tracie Bennett.
M. Renaud/Edouard Dindon: Iain Mitchell.
Mme. Renaud/Mme Dindon: Paula Wilcox.
Etienne: Ben Deery.
Colette: Leanne Harwood.
Tabarro: Robert Maskell.
Direction: Terry Johnson.
Designer: Tim Shortall.
Lighting: Nick Ritchings.
Musical Supervisor: Jason Carr.
Musical Director: Nigel Lilley.
Choreographer: Lynne Page.
Costume: Matthew Wright.
2008-11-08 10:46:58