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AuthorTopic: La Cage aux Folles (Read 13,009 times)
Snapefan
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #30 on Nov 30, 2007, 7:49pm »

Quote:
And the plates sequence? :D


I LOVED the plates!!! ;D ;D


Quote:

Did you see A M? Do you think it was him who came in and sat in the side block of seats?


Uhm...It seems you're not the only one who saw AM but I've no idea who you're talking about! AM?? Alfred Molina? Alanis Morissette? Adrian Monk? ::)


Quote:
A M was there, he sat right behind me (which I noticed after the interval) and so was one of PQ's "old friends" from this summer's Sweeney Todd.


I noticed the old-friend-from-Sweeney-Todd though :D
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #31 on Dec 3, 2007, 7:36pm »
Thank you everybody for your recent short reviews, and especially for not adding any "spoilers" to your posts.

As a token of gratitude ;) (with an invitation to carry on sending your short "spoiler-free" views about the show) we have just added to the show's page a couple of glorious curtain-call photos. :) :) :)

http://www.allthingsquast.info/career/stage/musicals/cageauxfolles.htm
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #32 on Dec 4, 2007, 10:56am »
Lovely photos, thank you for sharing! ;D I never dare bringing my camera with me.
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #33 on Dec 4, 2007, 8:02pm »
I went to see the show on Saturday matinee ;D
Fantastic show, great dancing and the songs are so catchy, I'm still humming them and driving everyone mad.
Dare not say anything on the show so I don't spoil it for anyone yet to see it.
Going again on 15th....just can't wait :D :D :D
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #34 on Dec 5, 2007, 6:48pm »
THIS IS A *SPOILER-FREE* MINI REVIEW

Finally a quiet moment to share some thoughts about my recent “La Caaaage” experience ;)

In three words: FUN FUN FUN. Although still in previews - and with one lead out of action - the show's tempo is already perfect, every scene contagiously sparkly and exhilarating. The spoken and visual gags follow one another in an irresistible flow, to the point that by the end of the evening your jaws beg for some rest.

The story and score was quite familiar, so I was expecting PQ’s George to be very much on the comedy side, but his actual performance overstepped my wildest imagination. Take some "Silly Philip" from Playschool, add a bit of Miles Gloriosus and… multiply tenfold!!

I’ll keep my pledge and won’t add any specific details, but just keep in mind that George is a HUGE role in the show. Apart from the Cagelles numbers he practically never leaves the stage and believe me, after Evita (which I loved nevertheless) this was such a treat!

The role of Georges not only has (IMO) the best songs in the show (need I add that PQ performs them in the usual sublime manner?), but is also the character who interacts the most with the rest of the cast: it’s fascinating to see how many different layers PQ adds to his role all along the show: George is loving and protective towards his son Jean-Michel, he simply cannot deny him anything; he is patient, understanding and sympathetic towards his partner Albin, but also firm when needed. As for his behaviour vis-à-vis his future in-laws, well, let me just say that the dinner scene is one of the funniest moments I’ve ever lived inside a theatre!

Enough said about the talented Mr Q, let me also swoon a bit for other members of the cast, and particularly for Albie-Spencer Stafford, who is currently replacing Douglas Hodge. What a sweet, endearing character and what a fantastic chemistry he creates with the audience during his numbers. And what to say about his vocal talents, if not that he is going to be a tough act to follow when Mr Hodge takes over later this month?

More praise, if you don’t mind:
Jacob-Jason Pennycooke is a comedy wonder, his looks and his one-liners are only second to PQ’s.

Les Cagelles: just six, but so energetic and athletic that you’d think they are at least a dozen! Loved the naughty choreographies and costumes too. BTW, spot the odd one out! ;)

Finally, Anne-Alicia Davies and Francis-Sebastien Torkia: two “Old Favorites” of mine who once again added an extra spark to the show (and made me wish their roles were much bigger).

One last recommendation: if you don’t want to kick yourself for the rest of the winter BOOK NOW, half of the Menier season until March is already sold out!
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #35 on Dec 5, 2007, 9:07pm »
Great to hear some deserved praise for the show! Seems like the hobby critics so far think it's not polished enough, that the timing is out, blah blah blah. I'm sitting there thinking, 'excuse me, did we see the same show?'

Thank you, Eli!
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #36 on Dec 11, 2007, 6:37pm »
Went to see La Cage last Saturday and, although I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it or not, I can categorically say it exceeded my expectations in every way.

The Menier Chocolate Factory, what a wonderful venue. So intimate, you really do feel part of the performance. I was sitting in the first row of seats (not the tables right at the front) and although I thought of moving back, I am really glad that I didn't. I was almost within touching distance of Philip - what joy.

Needless to say Philip gave a wonderful performance and was in fine voice. Great performances also from Spencer Stafford, and Jason Pennycooke as Jacob was hilarious. Philip's 'flirting' with the gentlemen at the front tables was brilliant, almost made me wish I had gone dressed as a man :o!

A great night out and highly recommended.
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #37 on Dec 11, 2007, 11:22pm »
The December issue of the What's On Stage Magazine (http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=222) includes an article by Roger Foss about the current production of La Cage aux Folles, with short interviews with some of the creatives. The article is available online at these links
http://www.whatsonstage.com/wosmag/onlin....rint/page37.pdf
http://www.whatsonstage.com/wosmag/onlin....rint/page38.pdf

For those who have problems opening pages in PDF format, here's an excerpt of the article:

FROCK AND AWE
Panto dames and Michael Ball in Hairspray may make cross-dressing on stage seem common, but it takes more than a frock to be a successful drag queen. As a new revival of La Cage aux Folles and the upcoming transfer of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, celebrate the art of drag, Roger Foss looks at the men behind the mascara.


(...)
But the Saint Tropez drag club setting for the New Menier Chocolate Factory production of the Jerry Herman-Harvey Feinstein musical La Cage aux Folles goes back to drag basics. When middle-aged drag queen Albin (played by Douglas Hodge) dabs on a little more mascara while singing about feeling special in feathers and bugle beads, he emerges as 'ZaZa' to perform in a far less extravagant club than in the original 1978 film's Las Vegas-style night spot, of in the original Broadway and London productions of the musical. If this La Cage is more like crock 'n' roll joints such as Blackpool's Funny Girls showbar, or the network of gay clubs where today's drag queen boom is led by clowns in gowns such as Titti La Camp, Lola Lasagne, Kandi Kane and Dave Lynn, then Herman says he's "so thrilled".

"That's exactly what Harvey and I always wanted to do with the show - set it in a smaller, grittier drag club. It's always been so vast that the Ziegfeld Follies could have performed there. We were once watching La Cage and all that white chiffon and damask and I whispered to Harvey, "Gave you ever been to a drag club in Saint Tropez?" He whispered back, "No, but I'm sure it's not like this."

Relocated to the outskirts of Saint Tropez, Terry Johnson's production probably owes more to the outskirts world of Lily savage performing on the bar at the Vauxhall Tavern in Camberwell, and may well be recognisable to glitzy Sydney drag queens Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (the stage musical version, already a hit in Australia, is due to open in London in late 2008), or even edgy New York dragsters Noxeema, Vida an Chi-Chi in the 1995 Hollywood movie To Waong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

The man responsible for creating ZaZa's new drag queen "look" at the Menier, is wit and make-up maestro Richard Mawbey, who has worked for may years with La Rue, Bailey and Dame Edna and, most recently, masterminded Michael Ball's Edna Turnblad transformation in Hairspray at he Shaftesbury Theatre. Mawbey also collaborated with legendary American hair and make-up designer Ted Azar in the original London production of La Cage, starring Broadway's George Hearn as Albin.

"Unlike the vast London Palladium stage, we're working in a small space at the Menier, so I have to be careful that make-um doesn't look too terrifying in close-up. After visiting drag clubs himself, Douglas (Hodge) felt that, like so many drag queens, Albin's stage persona would be influenced by iconic female performers such as Marilyn Monroe or Tina Turner. So we've gone in that direction. "I Am what I Am' then becomes Albin's Judy Garland moment."

As for Albin's farcical attempt to disguise himself as "mother" when his lover's son brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents to meet them, "that's always been done in a rather cod drag way," says Mawbey. "This time it's Albin trying to look as wonderful as he possibly can. I thought, why not give him a Catherine Deneuve image? It's just what a French drag queen in a little club on the edge of Saint Tropez might have thought of as glamour personified."

Apart from girdling his rear into a frock, one of the biggest challenges facing Hodge, Mawbey reminds me, is the 'A Little More Mascara' scene, where Albin sits in front of a mirror and transforms himself from unhappy man to glamour queen ("'Cause when I feel glamorous, elegant, beautiful, the world that I'm looking at's beautiful too"). "It needs lots of planning. Douglas is singing as well, so I have to train him to carefully time the mascara to the music. Danny La Rue found it difficult when he once played Albin in Jersey, and this was someone who's entire life had involved making up as a women. I'd literally be standing in the wings screaming, 'Dan, get that wig on quick'!'
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #38 on Dec 15, 2007, 1:53pm »
Saw La Cage last night and will definately have to see it again before it closes.

Does anyone know if Philip comes out the same door as everyone else after the performance - the one by the bar with fire exit and private written on it? I was hoping to get a photo but i must have just missed him or he comes out a different door with his bike.

Thanks!
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #39 on Dec 15, 2007, 8:51pm »
Hi All,

This is my first post, although I have been lurking for a while. I've had the chance to see La Cage a few times lately and just love it. I know that some of the reviews haven't been great but I can say that each show is better than the last and Philip has been consistantly brilliant from the start.

And Victoria, I can't answer your question for certain, but I do knowthat on the Menier Chocolate Factory's website, if you click on the 360º view link it takes you to a floor plan of the theatre complete with stage door...

Dee
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #40 on Dec 16, 2007, 12:28am »
Hellooooooooo and welcome to the PQG

:D :D :D

We have just returned from our 2nd visit to the best nightclub in the city

The changes since our first 1st visit are great fun especially the balloon & the finale

According to the box office lady ~ Spencer is in it until Jan 9th {when Douglas Hodge takes over} I would advise everyone to get tickets to see Spencer ~ he is brill.

I am sure Douglas will be too

The programmes are going to be ready this Thursday {20th Dec}.

It was a full house tonight and the atmosphere was brilliant. I overheard one of the cast on his mobile, say the whole cast were enjoying the show and the audiences were great.

Philip's dancing is soooooooooooooo brill

:D :D :D

The whole show just makes us want to ;D

We drive home in the car singing at the tops of our voices to the CD

:D :D :D
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PQ is a gentleman with a wonderful voice, a brilliant actor & is very kind ~ especially to my son.

Actually, PQ is just brilliant in every way.
rtkm007
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #41 on Dec 16, 2007, 1:16am »
My photos of the curtain call are much better this time and so I will load them onto my website as before and I can also email them if you like

:D :D :D

There is one brilliant one of everyone at the end

:D :D :D
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PQ is a gentleman with a wonderful voice, a brilliant actor & is very kind ~ especially to my son.

Actually, PQ is just brilliant in every way.
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #42 on Dec 16, 2007, 5:49am »
Thanks to everybody for their comments, now I'm even more eager to see the show again!
Great to hear that they are adding some final touches. I believe the cast & creative have "learned" a lot from the response from the audience day in day out. Comedy means nothing without the feedback from real people attending the show.

Is it true that Douglas Hodge will only take over on the day of the Press Night? Hmmm, sounds risky...

Enjoy the next shows and keep the reviews coming! :)
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Deejay
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #43 on Dec 16, 2007, 9:31am »
Hi Guys - thanks for the welcome, you are all so swet :-)

From what I understand about Doug, he's still quite weak and pretty much has to start rehearsals again from scratch. And the show has a really packed schedule over the christmas period (they only get christmas day and new years eve off) with lots of two-shows-per-day booked, he's just not well enough yet.

Spencer is brilliant though, he's definitely worth seeing too

Dee x
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Re: La Cage aux Folles
« Reply #44 on Dec 16, 2007, 12:39pm »
Hi All,
I too have just registered after lurking for awhile. I'm going to London in February to scout out Grad schools, and after reading all your wonderful reviews of the show (and PQ of course!) I've started to think I should make a side trip to see it while I'm there... Is there anyone who's planning to go sometime between the 21st and 25th of February who'd be willing to take a lonely Canadian under his or her wing for an evening (or afternoon)? I'd love to be able to meet some of you while I'm there!
xo Catherine
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