Review: La Cage aux Folles

Musical: La Cage aux Folles

Venue: Longacre Theatre, New York

Date: 9th April at 20:00

Cast: Harvey Fierstein (Albin/Zaza), Christopher Sieber (Georges), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Jacob), A.J. Shively (Jean-Michel), Heather Lindell (Anne), Cheryl Stern (Jacqueline u/s), Mike McShane (M. Renaud/M. Dindon), Veanne Cox (Mme. Renaud/Mme. Dindon)

Rating: *****


Review: It's my first two-show day and after a quick bite at the nearby Japanese restaurant, I went straight to the Longacre Theatre on my own for a performance of La Cage. I arrived inside the theatre about 15 minutes before curtain but what I didn't know was that there was a "pre-show". One of the drag queens were sitting on the stage and greeting audience and making all sorts of funny jokes and really getting the audience ready for the show. She (ahem!) also made funny remarks to the next door show 'House of Blue Leaves' as well as 'Wicked'. I think this was a really nice way to begin the show because it really sets up the mood for you that you are actually at a club rather than a theatre.

The Longcre Theatre on 48th Street

The Longacre is a small intimate theatre, suitable for the scale that this production of La Cage was going for. At the front of the stage were these 'front seats' seating with round tables and chairs resembling a cabaret show seating. Quite clever, I think, but look really uncomfortable though.

The show began with Georges played by the multi-talented Christopher Sieber greeting the audience and welcoming us to La Cage aux Folles. As some of you might know, Sieber was an immediate replacement for Jeffrey Tambor who left the show after only a week. And he was just amazing. He was very charming and funny and his singing voice was just lovely and I love how he chose to sing the last note of 'Song on the Sand' one octave higher than the original and really showed off his singing talents. He was very good in a more dramatic part of the show as well. I even think that the role suits him better than the original Georges, Kelsey Grammer (based on what I heard from the cast recording only though). It reminds me of when I saw Jonathan Pryce (replacing John Lithgow) in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels who were just brilliant and much more suited to the role than his original counterpart.

Christopher Sieber as Georges
in his purple velvet suit as he welcomed audience to his club

Harvey Fierstein was our Albin/Zaza/Uncle Al. In case you don't know, he was the bookwriter of the musical and it was really interesting to see him play the role and he didn't disappoint at all. His comedy timing was just impeccable and though his singing voice was raspy as ever, somehow I feel that it suited the 'diva' character of Zaza very well. And though his 'I Am What I Am' could have been stronger vocally, it was simply perfect emotionally. True, Douglas Hodge (the original Tony-Winning Zaza) might have a bigger voice (and a better body), but Harvey Fierstein was just as good, if not, may I say, better.

Harvey Fierstein as Albin/Zaza
Here disguised as Jean-Michel's mother during "Best of Times" scene

during "La Cage aux Folles"

A.J. Shively and Heather Lindell played the couple Jean-Michel and Anne and they were both very lovely in their (minor) roles. Mike McShane and Veanne Cox took on the dual roles of M.&Mme. Renaud and Dindon. They were pretty funny in both roles. I was sad not to see Christine Andreas as Jacqueline but our understudy Cheryl Stern was very cute and played the role really well.

The lovely couple: Jean-Michel and Anne
(AJ Shively and Elena Shaddow)

Cheryl Stern (second left) was our Jacqueline at my performance

I also need to mention the 6 Cagelles who were very graceful, talented, funny and simply a joy to watch. However, I must say that the Thai version of La Cage that I saw last year in Bangkok boasted a much more complex and impressive choreography and costumes.

The six Cagelles seen here with Sieber and Fierstein

The only thing that let me down in this production was the role of Jacob. I heard so many good things about Robin de Jesus and with him being nominated, I thought the role must have been really good and funny. And with Tony-Winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia (of Rent), my expectation was really high. What turned out was a total waste of talent. The role didn't suite Heredia at all. He wasn't funny and he didn't really have a chance to show off his singing voice except a small part in 'Cocktail Counterpoint'. Also, I think the costumes and the makeup of Jacob made the role look really, forgive me for saying this, cheap and trashy.

Wilson Jermaine Heredia at his curtain call

Wilson Jermaine Heredia and AJ Shively
during "With Anne on My Arm"

The music by the great Jerry Herman was a lot of fun. I really like the "We Are What We Are" tune which was very catchy and hummable. "Song on the Sand" "The Best of Times" and "I Am What I Am" were real showstoppers. However, I think La Cage suffered from a weak book. I think Act One was fine and it built up nicely. I never liked how suddenly Albin became so sarcastic with the whole situation at the beginning of Act Two and gave in so easily. It really devalued "I Am What I Am" that he sang at the end of Act One and I feel that everything ended too easily.

Productionwise, I think it was very good. They use simple scenes and simple props which were effective enough. However, I really wish that there were more glitz and glamour in the Cagelles scenes but I guess it was a club that was "rather gaudy" anyway..

Overall, I still enjoyed the show a lot. It was a lot of fun and I was really happy to see Fierstein and Sieber in the roles (and also got their autographs at the stage door afterwards). Too bad it is closing this week so if you have the chance, try to make it before it's gone.  

I Am What I Am

I hear "La da da da..."

Cagelles during "La Cage aux Folles" number

"The Best of Times" seen here with original cast members
including Christine Andreas, Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge

The Finale

MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
We Are What We Are... Georges and Cagelles
A Little More Mascara... Albin and Georges
With Anne on My Arm... Jean-Michel and Georges
With You on My Arm... Georges and Albin
Song on the Sand... Georges
La Cage aux Folles... Albin, Cagelles and Company
I Am What I Am... Albin


ACT TWO
Song on the Sand (Reprise)... Georges
Masculinity... Georges, Albin, M. Renaud, Mme. Renaud and Company
Look Over There... Georges
Cocktail Counterpoint... Anne, M. Dindon, Mme. Dindon, Georges, Jean-Michel and Jacob
The Best of Times... Albin, Jacqueline and Company
Look Over There (Reprise)... Jean-Michel, Georges
Finale... Company