| La Cage aux Folles | |
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| Original Broadway windowcard | |
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| Music | Jerry Herman |
| Lyrics | Jerry Herman |
| Book | Harvey Fierstein |
| Basis | La Cage aux Folles 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 of a Musical Tony Award for Best Original Score Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical 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 of the same name by Jean Poiret, it focuses on a gay couple: Georges, the manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his romantic partner and star attraction, and the farcical adventures that ensue when Georges' son, Jean-Michel, brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents to meet them.
The musical's original 1983 Broadway production received nine nominations for Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The success of the musical spawned a West End production and several international runs. 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
Allan Carr, who had produced the successful film adaptation of Grease (1978), was anxious to work in theatre and thought a musical version of the hit 1978 film La Cage aux Folles would be an ideal vehicle for his Broadway debut.[1] However, he was unable to secure the rights to the film and was forced to settle for the rights to the original play only.[2] Carr hired Jay Presson Allen to write the book and Maury Yeston to compose the score for The Queen of Basin Street, an Americanized version set in New Orleans. With Mike Nichols set to direct and Tommy Tune on board as choreographer, Carr searched for executive producers and found them in Fritz Holt and Barry Brown, who immediately fired the entire creative team that Carr had assembled. All of them eventually filed lawsuits, but Yeston alone won and later collected a small royalty from La Cage.[3]
Holt and Brown had produced the 1974 revival of Gypsy directed by Arthur Laurents, and they approached him with an offer to direct their new venture. Laurents was not a fan of either drag or camp entertainment and thought Holt and Brown never would find enough investors to finance a gay-themed project at a time when, during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, homophobia was more intense than ever.[4] He agreed only because Holt and Brown were close friends and he wanted them to remain on Carr's payroll as long as possible, but his interest grew when he learned Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman had committed to the project.[5]
When Laurents met with Fierstein and Herman for the first time, they had restored both the title and locale of the original play but had neither a script nor even an outline for the plot. All they had was the Herman song "I Am What I Am", and Laurents immediately envisioned it as an emotional outburst sung at the close of the first act. According to Laurents, when he explained his concept to Fierstein and Herman, he inspired the direction they took in writing the musical.[6] With gay-activist Fierstein and the political Laurents on board, the show could have "become a polemic diatribe on gay rights".[4] However, Herman was a moderating influence. Having suffered a series of disappointments with darker-themed shows since 1969, he was eager to score a hit with a mainstream, emotional, optimistic song-and-dance entertainment that middle-class audiences would love.[4] The team opted to create "a charming, colorful, great-looking musical comedy - an old-fashioned piece of entertainment", as Herman recalled in his memoir Showtune.[7] By "delivering their sentiments in a sweetly entertaining manner", the team was able to convey their gay-themed message with more impact than they could have with a more aggressive approach.[8]
Fierstein, Herman and Laurents met daily in Herman's Manhattan townhouse to work on the musical. Because they were limited to using only the Poiret play as a source, they were unable to include the character of Jean-Michel's birth mother, who had been created for the film. They focused the plot on the fact that the relationship of Georges and Albin seems so natural that the boy is able to accept a man as his "mother".[9] The three men agreed that Albin needed to be as glamorous an entertainer as possible, and Theoni V. Aldredge was hired as costume designer to achieve their goal.[10]
The producers agreed to a Boston tryout, and just prior to the second preview (the first was cancelled due to problems with the mechanized set),[11] Herman had a panic attack prompted by his fear that the city probably was too conservative to embrace a gay-themed musical, albeit one designed for a mainstream audience. The Boston crowds gave the show an enthusiastic reception.[12] Fierstein, Herman and Laurents were also concerned that this was essentially a love story in which the lovers barely touched each other. Fierstein suggested they kiss on the cheeks at the end, and Laurents, citing the common custom of French men kissing each other on both cheeks, agreed.[13]
George Hearn as Albin had the showier role and all the big musical numbers. His character was fully-drawn, and behind the drag performer, the audience could see "a person driven to take a stand for himself – a notion that all people could relate to."[8] In contrast, during rehearsals, everyone had supported firing Gene Barry, who was considered adequate but never outstanding as Georges, but finding a replacement proved to be difficult. Finally, just before opening night, Laurents directed him always to look into Hearn's eyes, whenever the two men were on stage, so the audience would sense the depth of the couple's feelings for each other. The director also had Georges introduce the various club acts with more of a flourish, "like an aria that will land like a musical number". Both of these last-minute stage directions enabled Barry to get a better grasp of his character.[14]
According to theatre historian John Kenrick, La Cage aux Folles helped make the 1983 Broadway season an especially strong one. He noted that following La Cage and Big River in 1985, for "the first time since Oklahoma, a full decade would go by before a new American musical would pass the 1,000 performance mark."[15]
Synopsis
Georges is the master of ceremonies, and his lover Albin stars as the flamboyant Zaza, at their St. Tropez drag nightclub, "La Cage aux Folles". At the club, the chorus line is known as Les Cagelles. Georges and Albin have lived happily together for many years with their black "maid" Jacob. Georges' 20-year-old son Jean-Michel (the offspring of a confused, youthful liaison with a woman named Sybil) arrives home 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 seen 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, in pearls and sensible shoes. 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 queen "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 from a short-lived affair 20 years ago.
- Anne Dindon - Jean-Michel's fiancée.
- Monsieur Edouard Dindon - Anne's father, and leader of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party.
- Madame Marie Dindon - Edouard'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, who 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.
Productions
Original Broadway production
La Cage aux Folles opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on August 21, 1983. The production was directed by Arthur Laurents and choreographed by Scott Salmon, with set design by David Mitchell, costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge, and lighting design by Jules Fisher. The original Broadway cast included Gene Barry and George Hearn, who played the lead roles of Georges and Albin, respectively, John Weiner as Jean-Michel, 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.[16] Among the replacement performers who appeared in La Cage aux Folles during its original Broadway run were Walter Charles, Keene Curtis, Van Johnson, Peter Marshall, Keith Michell and Lee Roy Reams.[16]
At the 1984 Tony Awards, La Cage aux Folles received nine nominations in eight categories, winning for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Direction and Best Actor in a Musical for Hearne (who won against co-star Barry). The show beat several strong competitors in many of these categories, including Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George. It also won Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Actor for Hearn.
The production ran for four years and 1,761 performances, closing on November 15, 1987.[16] After the great success of the production's opening night, Herman felt vindicated. He "had nothing else to prove" to his critics and "vowed never to write another show for Broadway".[17]
Original West End production
La Cage aux Folles opened at the London Palladium on May 7, 1986 with the same creative team as the Broadway production. Hearn transferred with the production, which was made possible through an agreement with the American and British actors' unions, allowing him to come over in exchange for Robert Lindsay appearing in Me and My Girl on Broadway.[18] The production also starred Denis Quilley as Georges,[19] Jonathon Morris as Jean-Michel, Richard Owens as M. Renaud, Brian Glover as Edouard Dindon, Julia Sutton as Mme. Dindon, Phyllida Law as Jacqueline, Wendy Roe as Anne, and Donald Waugh as Jacob.[20]
The show closed in London after 301 performances. Its short run and financial failure were partly blamed on the AIDS crisis, and producers were uncomfortable about portraying gay lives onstage quite so openly in mainstream musicals for some time afterwards.[21]
2004 Broadway revival
A Broadway revival opened at the Marquis Theatre, beginning previews on November 11, 2004, with an official opening on December 9, 2004. Jerry Zaks directed, with choreography by Jerry Mitchell. The cast included Gary Beach as Albin, Daniel Davis as Georges, Gavin Creel as Jean-Michel, Merwin Foard as M. Renaud, Michael Mulheren as Edouard Dindon, Linda Balgord as Mme. Dindon, Ruth Williamson as Jacqueline, Angela Gaylor as Anne, and Michael Benjamin Washington as Jacob. Designers were Scott Pask (sets), Donald Holder (lights) and William Ivey Long (costumes).[22] Robert Goulet replaced Davis as Georges on April 15, 2005 and played the role until the production closed.
Reviews for the production were mixed, with The New York Times stating that it "often gives the impression of merely going through the motions, amiably but robotically, of its gag-laden, sentimental plot", yet praised Les Cagelles, who "bring acrobatic oomph and angularity to centerpieces that include an aviary of exotic, back-flipping birds and a vigorous Montmartre-style can-can. As long as the Cagelles are doing their thing, your attention stays thoroughly engaged".[23]
The production won both Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Choreography. The production closed on June 26, 2005. Ticket sales for the show had not increased after winning the Tony Award, and the show had been consistently selling at less than 60% capacity in the months prior to closing.[24][25]
2008 London revival
- Menier Chocolate Factory
A scaled-down London revival, starring Philip Quast as Georges and Douglas Hodge as Albin, opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory on January 8, 2008 and played there until March 8, 2008.[26] The cast also included Neil McDermott, Iain Mitchell and Una Stubbs, with direction by Terry Johnson and choreograpy by Lynne Page. The production had originally been scheduled to open in December 2007, but it was delayed twice due to illness within the cast.[27][28] By the time the production officially opened, all remaining performances had sold out.[29] The show opened to mostly positive press with particular praise for Hodge's performance as Albin.[30]
- Transfer to the West End
The production transferred to the West End on October 20, 2008 at the Playhouse Theatre co-produced with Sonia Friedman productions. It was initially advertised as a "Strictly Limited 12 Week Season",[31] although this became open-ended due to its success.[32] Hodge reprised his role as Albin, joined by Denis Lawson as Georges.[33] The cast also included Iain Mitchell as M Renaud/Edouard Dindon, Paula Wilcox as Mme. Ranaud/Mme. Dindon and Tracie Bennett as Jacqueline. The production gathered rave reviews, with high praise again for Hodge and Les Cagelles. Whatsonstage.com commented: "A great Broadway show has been re-born as a classic musical comedy with real punch and pizzazz." Michael Billington of The Guardian reported that the show had improved with its transfer to the West End from the Menier Chocolate Factory.[34] The 2008 West End cast appeared as a guest act for the Royal Variety Performance 2008, staged at the London Palladium on December 11, 2008 in the presence of senior members of the Royal family[35] 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 roles of Albin and Georges have been re-cast in London every three months with well-known actors to keep the production fresh and public interest high. Television personality Graham Norton took over the role of Albin on January 19, 2009 alongside Steven Pacey as Georges.[36] They were succeeded on May 4, 2009 by theatre veterans Roger Allam as Albin and Philip Quast reprising his role of Georges from the Menier Chocolate Factory.[37] From September 12, 2009 until November 28, 2009, John Barrowman and Simon Burke played the roles of Albin and Georges respectively.[38] Douglas Hodge as Albin and Denis Lawson as Georges returned to the production from 30th November 2009 until the production closed on January 2, 2010.[1]
International productions
The 1985 Australian production starred Keith Michell (as Georges) and Jon Ewing (as Albin).[39] The Colombian production starred Cesar Mora (as Zaza) and Fernando Gonzalez Pacheco (as Renato).[citation needed]
Foreign language productions have played in Berlin, Oslo (twice), Vienna, Italy, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Moscow. The Argentinian production was one of the most successful musicals in Buenos Aires, running for two years. It starred 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" was Gustavo Rojo. Also featured was Silvia Pinal.[citation needed]
A Portuguese production directed and produced by Filipe La Féria opened at the Rivoli Theatre, Porto in April 2009 starring José Raposo as Albin and Carlos Quintas as Georges.[40] In 2009, a production in Auckland, New Zealand, starred Craig Rodgers as Albin, Vaughan Meneses as Georges, and Mark Emmett as Jean-Michel.[citation needed]
Planned productions
- 2010 Broadway revival
A transfer of the 2008 London revival to Broadway is scheduled to begin previews at the Longacre Theatre on April 6, 2010 and officially open on April 18. Hodge is scheduled to reprise his role as Albin, making his Broadway debut, and Johnson and Page will direct and choreograph again. Kelsey Grammer is scheduled play the role of Georges, and the show will be his debut in a Broadway musical (he has done Shakespeare on Broadway previously). The set design is by Tim Shortall, costumes by Matthew Wright and lighting by Nick Richings.[41]
Musical numbers
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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 was also recorded by other artists, including Tony Bennett and Pia Zadora[8] and also became a rallying cry of the Gay Pride movement.
See also
Notes
- ^ Laurents, p. 115
- ^ Laurents, p. 119
- ^ Laurents, p. 118
- ^ a b c Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 176
- ^ Laurents, pp. 119-20
- ^ Laurents, pp. 119-20
- ^ Herman, p. 227
- ^ a b c Bloom and Vlastnik, p. 177
- ^ Laurents, p. 122
- ^ Herman, p. 233
- ^ Laurents, p. 128
- ^ Herman, pp. 239-40
- ^ Laurents, p. 121
- ^ Laurents, pp. 126-27
- ^ History of The Musical Stage 1980s: Part II
- ^ a b c "La Cage aux Folles". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved on August 11, 2009.
- ^ Bloom and Herman, p. 224
- ^ Gerard, Jeramy. "2 Actors' Unions Wage Trans-Atlantic Battle", The New York Times, June 25, 1987
- ^ Billington, Michael, "A gay night at home with the boys", The Guardian, 9 May 1986, p. 12
- ^ "La Cage aux Folles", Broadway World
- ^ "I Love The Nightlife", The Stage, June 6, 2007
- ^ IBDB Listing ibdb.com, accessed August 12, 2009
- ^ Brantley, Ben. Review The New York Times, December 10, 2004
- ^ "La Cage Will Close June 26 Despite Tony Awards", playbill.com, 2005
- ^ Broadwayworld Grosses broadwayworld.com, accessed August 12, 2009
- ^ 2008 Menier productionbritishtheatreguide.info
- ^ "Cast Illness Forces La Cage Postponement", whatsonstage.com, 13 December 2007
- ^ "La Cage Cancels More Performances as Cast Fall Ill", whatsonstage.com
- ^ thisistheatre listing thisistheatre.com
- ^ "Is La Cage Another Menier Hit?",whatsonstage.com
- ^ Promotional Leaflet
- ^ "La Cage aux Folles extends London run", westendlondon.com
- ^ Shenton, Mark. "Menier La Cage Begins Performances at West End's Playhouse Theatre Oct. 20", playbill.com, October 20, 2008
- ^ Billington, Michael. "Did Hodge Sparkle in La Cage?" whatsonstage.com
- ^ Royal Variety Press Release 2008
- ^ "Graham Norton Joins La Cage",keithprowse.com
- ^ "Allam and Quast to Lead La Cage" nationaltheatre.org.uk
- ^ "Burke to Join Barrowman in London La Cage aux Folles", playbill.com
- ^ broadwayworld listing
- ^ "La Cage Aux Folles Opens in Oporto, Portugal", May 29, 2009
- ^ "Kelsey Grammer Confirmed to Star in Broadway Revival of La Cage", broadway.com, accessed November 30, 2009.
- ^ a b West End Revival Programme
References
- Bloom, Ken and Vlastnik, Frank. Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers (2004; revised paperback ed. 2008). ISBN 1-579-12313-0
- Bloom, Ken and Jerry Herman. Jerry Herman: the lyrics: a celebration, Routledge (2003). ISBN 0-415-96768-6
- Herman, Jerry and Marilyn Stasio. Showtune: A Memoir by Jerry Herman, New York: Donald I. Fine Books (1996). ISBN 1-556-11502-4
- Laurents, Arthur. Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals, New York: Knopf (2009). ISBN 0-307-27088-2
External links
- Internet Broadway Database listing
- NY Times 1983 review
- Broadway World review of the 2004 revival
- profile of the show
- Photos from the original Broadway production
- Profile of the musical with many links to the songs, albums and other information
- Review of the musical at the Playhouse Theatre in London | November 3, 2008
- Production, cast, and plot information from guidetomusicaltheatre.com
- Background and other information about the musical
- Playbill feature
- Analysis of La Cage and its Broadway season
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