La Cage aux Folles (musical)


For other uses, see La Cage aux Folles.
La Cage aux Folles
Original Broadway Windowcard
Music Jerry Herman
Lyrics Jerry Herman
Book Harvey Fierstein
Based upon 1973 French play by Jean Poiret
Productions 1983 Broadway
1986 West End
2004 Broadway revival
2008 West End revival
Awards Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Book
Tony Award for Best Score
Drama Desk Outstanding Music
Tony Award for Best Revival
Drama Desk Outstanding Revival

La Cage aux Folles is a musical with a book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman. Based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret and subsequent 1978 French-Italian screen version (one of the most popular foreign films ever released in the United States), the musical focuses on a gay couple: Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his star attraction—and the adventures that ensue when Georges' son brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents to meet them.

The musical's 1983 Broadway production overcame competition from several strong new shows that season, including Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George, Kander and Ebb's The Rink and David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr.'s Baby, winning six Tony Awards out of nine nominations, including the top honors of Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Among the forward-looking themes of the musical is the idea that homosexuals can form stable, long-term relationships and raise children.

The success of the musical spawned productions on the West End and internationally. The 2004 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for best revival, and the 2008 London revival garnered the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.

Contents

Background

A gay-themed project was risky in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, even though many Broadway performers, crew members, and devotees were gay. But the creative team—all gay men—felt that such a show was the tonic needed by those suffering from the illness and to combat the overt homophobia that had surfaced in some quarters due to the threat posed by the epidemic.

Although La Cage was Broadway's first gay-themed musical, it was nevertheless a mainstream production. Laurents did not allow his lead characters so much as a peck on the cheek for fear that he might offend his audience. It was an old-fashioned production in the best sense: elaborate costumes by veteran Theoni V. Aldredge, exquisite sets, glamorous chorus girls (including mostly boys in drag), and a lushly romantic score. According to theatre historian John Kenrick, La Cage and the strong 1983 season was the last great Broadway season. After the next season's Big River, for "the first time since Oklahoma, a full decade would go by before a new American musical would pass the 1,000 performance mark."[citation needed]

Productions

Broadway

After fifteen previews, the Broadway production, directed by Arthur Laurents and choreographed by Scott Salmon, opened on August 21, 1983 at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 1,761 performances. The original cast included Gene Barry (as Georges), George Hearn (as Albin), John Weiner (as Jean-Michel, the handsome son), Walter Charles (as M. Renaud), Jay Garner (as Edouard Dindon), Merle Louise (as Mme. Dindon), Elizabeth Parrish (as Jacqueline), Leslie Stevens (as Anne), and William Thomas, Jr. (as Jacob). Replacements for the leads later in the run included Walter Charles, Keene Curtis, Van Johnson, Peter Marshall, Keith Michell, and Lee Roy Reams.

After thirty-one previews, a Broadway revival directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell opened on December 9, 2004 at the Marquis Theatre, where it ran for 229 performances, winning the Tony Award for best revival. [1] The cast included Gary Beach, Daniel Davis,Gavin Creel. Robert Goulet replaced Davis later in the run.

West End

The original West End production opened on May 7, 1986 at the London Palladium, where it ran for nearly eight months (301 performances). It starred Denis Quilley, George Hearn, and Jonathon Morris.

A London revival, starring Philip Quast (Georges) and Douglas Hodge (Albin), opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory on 8 January 2008, and played there until March 8 2008.[2] This transferred to the West End on 20 October 2008 at the Playhouse Theatre. Hodge reprised his role as Albin, joined by Denis Lawson as Georges.[3][4] In 2009, Graham Norton and then Roger Allam took over the role of Albin. Stephen Pacey and then Philip Quast took the role Georges. John Barrowman is scheduled to take over the role of Albin from November. The production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, and Hodge won for Best actor, out of a total of seven nominations.

The 2008 West End cast appeared as a guest act for the Royal Variety Performance 2008, staged at the London Palladium on 11 December in the presence of senior members of the Royal family. The Royal Variety Performance is a gala event held annually at a major British theatre, to raise money for the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund. [5]

International

The 1985 Australian production starred Keith Michell (as Georges) and Jon Ewing (as Albin).[6]

The Colombian production starred Cesar Mora (as Zaza) and Fernando Gonzalez Pacheco (as Renato)

Foreign language productions have played in Berlin, Vienna, Italy, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Moscow. The Argentinian production was one of the most successful musicals in Buenos Aires (two years). Starred by Tato Bores, as Renato (Georges), Carlos Perciavalle, as Zaza, and Darío Grandinetti (then Aníbal Silveyra), as the son. The Mexico City production ran for two and one-half years in the "Teatro Silvia Pinal". In the role of "Zaza" was Javier Diaz Dueñas and in the role of "Sr. Albin" Gustavo Rojo, as well as Silva Pinal. A Portuguese production is set to open at Porto in April 2009 starring José Raposo as Albin and Carlos Quintas as Georges.

In 2009, a production was staged in Auckland, New Zealand, Starring Craig Rodgers as Albin, Vaughan Meneses as Georges, and Mark Emmett as Jean-Michel.

Synopsis

Georges and his lover Albin, who stars as Zaza at their St. Tropez drag nightclub, "La Cage aux Folles," have lived happily together for many years. Their apartment is also home to their black "maid" Jacob. Georges' son Jean-Michel (the offspring of a confused, youthful liaison with a woman named Sybil) arrives with the news that he is engaged to Anne Dindon. Unfortunately, her father is head of the "Tradition, Family and Morality Party," whose stated goal is to close the local drag clubs. Anne's parents want to meet their daughter's future in-laws. Jean-Michel has lied to his fiancée, describing Georges as a retired diplomat. Jean-Michel pleads with Albin to absent himself (and his flamboyantly gay behaviors) for the visit - and for Georges to redecorate the apartment in a more subdued fashion. He will invite Sybil--who has barely been involved with him since his birth--to dinner in Albin's stead. Albin's feelings are hurt – he has been a good "mother". He departs in a huff.

The next morning, Georges suggests to Albin that he dress up as macho "Uncle Al". Back at the chastely redesigned apartment, Georges receives a telegram that Jean-Michel's mother Sybil is not coming, and Anne's parents arrive. Hoping to save the day, Albin appears as Jean-Michel's buxom, forty-year-old mother. The nervous Jacob burns the dinner, so a trip to a local restaurant, Chez Jacqueline, belonging to an old friend of Albin and Georges, is quickly arranged. No one has briefed Jacqueline on the situation, and she asks Albin for a song. As Zaza, Albin yields to the frenzy of performance and tears off his wig at the song's climax, revealing his true identity.

Back at the apartment, the Dindons plead with their daughter to abandon her fiancé, but she is in love with Jean-Michel and refuses to leave him. Jean-Michel, deeply ashamed of the way he has treated Albin, asks his forgiveness, which is lovingly granted. The Dindons prepare to depart, but their way is blocked by Jacqueline, who has arrived with the press, ready to photograph these notorious anti-homosexual activists with Zaza. Georges and Albin have a proposal: If Anne and Jean-Michel may marry, Georges will help the Dindons escape through La Cage aux Folles next door. The Dindons do so, dressed in drag as members of the nightclub's revue, and all ends well.

Characters

  • Albin - The star of the La Cage club, as drag alter ego, "Zaza."
  • Georges - Albin's partner, and owner of La Cage, as well as compere.
  • Jacob - Butler (or housemaid), and Albin's personal assistant.
  • Jean-Michel - Georges' son, due to a short-lived affair 20 years ago.
  • Anne - Jean-Michel's fiancée.
  • Monsieur Edouard Dindon - Anne's father, and leader of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party.
  • Madame Marie Dindon - Edouard Dindon's wife, and Anne's mother.
  • Chantal of Avignon - One of Les Cagelles drag troupe, with a stunning voice.
  • Hanna from Hamburg - Another of Les Cagelles, but brandishes a whip.
  • Phaedra the Enigma - The Cagelle with the wild tongue.
  • Jaqueline - Albin's friend, and the owner of classy restaurant, "Chez Jaqueline."
  • Monsieur and Madame Renaud - Owners of the Promenade Cafe.

Song list

Act I
  • We Are What We Are
  • A Little More Mascara
  • With Anne on My Arm
  • With You on My Arm
  • The Promenade
  • Song on the Sand
  • La Cage aux Folles
  • I Am What I Am
Act II
  • Song on the Sand (Reprise)
  • Masculinity
  • Look Over There
  • Cocktail Counterpoint (aka "Dishes")
  • The Best of Times
  • Look Over There (Reprise)
  • The Finale

Albin's Act I finale number, the rousing "I Am What I Am," was recorded by Gloria Gaynor and proved to be one of her biggest hits. It also became a rallying cry of the Gay Pride movement.

Cast recordings

  • Original Broadway Cast
  • Original Australian Cast
  • Original Berlin Cast
  • Original Vienna Cast
  • Original Colombian Cast
  • Original Mexican Cast
  • Original Italian Cast

Awards and nominations

1983 production

2004 revival

See also

References

  1. ^ Internet Broadway Database listing for 2004 revival
  2. ^ 2008 Menier production
  3. ^ listing for production at Menier
  4. ^ Shenton, Mark."Menier La Cage Begins Performances at West End's Playhouse Theatre Oct. 20",playbill.com, October 20, 2008
  5. ^ http://www.eabf.org.uk/RVP-PressRelease08.pdf Press release announcing acts for the 2008 Royal Variety Performance
  6. ^ broadwayworld listing

External links


v • d • e
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical

She Loves Me (1994) · The King and I (1996) · Chicago (1997) · Cabaret (1998) · You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999) · Kiss Me, Kate (2000) · 42nd Street (2001) · Into the Woods (2002) · Nine (2003) · Assassins (2004) · La Cage aux Folles (2005) · Sweeney Todd (2006) · Company (2007) · South Pacific (2008) · Hair (2009)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Musical

A Chorus Line (1976) · Annie (1977) · Ain't Misbehavin' (1978) · Sweeney Todd (1979) · Evita (1980) · 42nd Street (1981) · Nine (1982) · Cats (1983) · La Cage aux Folles (1984) · Big River (1985) · The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1986) · Les Misérables (1987) · The Phantom of the Opera (1988) · Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989) · City of Angels (1990) · The Will Rogers Follies (1991) · Crazy for You (1992) · Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993) · Passion (1994) · Sunset Boulevard (1995) · Rent (1996) · Titanic (1997) · The Lion King (1998) · Fosse (1999) · Contact (2000)

Complete list: (1949–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Original Score

A Chorus Line (1976) · Annie (1977) · On the Twentieth Century (1978) · Sweeney Todd (1979) · Evita (1980) · Woman of the Year (1981) · Nine (1982) · Cats (1983) · La Cage aux Folles (1984) · Big River (1985) · Drood (1986) · Les Misérables (1987) · Into the Woods (1988) · City of Angels (1990) · The Will Rogers Follies (1991) · Falsettos (1992) · Kiss of the Spider Woman / The Who's Tommy (1993) · Passion (1994) · Sunset Boulevard (1995) · Rent (1996) · Titanic (1997) · Ragtime (1998) · Parade (1999) · Aida (2000)

Complete list: (1947-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

A Chorus Line (1976) · Annie (1977) · On the Twentieth Century (1978) · Sweeney Todd (1979) · Evita (1980) · Woman of the Year (1981) · Dreamgirls (1982) · Cats (1983) · La Cage aux Folles (1984) · Big River (1985) · Drood (1986) · Les Misérables (1987) · Into the Woods (1988) · City of Angels (1990) · The Secret Garden (1991) · Falsettos (1992) · Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993) · Passion (1994) · Sunset Boulevard (1995) · Rent (1996) · Titanic (1997) · Ragtime (1998) · Parade (1999) · James Joyce's The Dead (2000)

Complete list: (1950-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

Carousel (1994) · Show Boat (1995) · The King and I (1996) · Chicago (1997) · Cabaret (1998) · Annie Get Your Gun (1999) · Kiss Me, Kate (2000) · 42nd Street (2001) · Into the Woods (2002) · Nine (2003) · Assassins (2004) · La Cage aux Folles (2005) · The Pajama Game (2006) · Company (2007) · South Pacific (2008) · Hair (2009)
v • d • e
Jerry Herman musicals






stock | retire
Why are we here?
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
This page is cache of Wikipedia. History