La Cage aux Folles: Fun show with periodic glitches

When La Cage aux Folles premiered on Broadway in 1983, the award-winning show was often described as the coming out of musical theatre.

Flamboyant, funny and potentially touching, the main theme was the power of love and the many ways it can be expressed.

In the 40-plus years since the play on which the musical is based hit the stage, the world has grown in understanding and tolerance. Therefore, the shock value of a show about a gay couple, with one of the pair the drag-queen star of the nightclub they run is virtually non-existent. That their son is about to become engaged to a young woman gets a mild reaction on stage only. The problem is that she is the daughter of a crusading homophobic deputy and the boy wants to bring his girl and their parents home to meet his family

In the Suzart Productions presentation of La Cage aux Folles, directed by Susan Fowler-Dacey, one of the most poignant moments is when Albin — the man who has nurtured his partner’s son for more than 20 years — is told to make himself scarce during the parental visit. In fact, Kraig-Paul Proulx as Albin and his alter ego, Zaza the drag queen, delivers a dramatically and musically strong performance at all times. Without question, he is the focal point throughout.

As Georges, the straight man of the duo, Jim Baldwin is in good voice but seems ill at ease in the role much of the time. Similarly, as their son Jean-Michel, Jay Landreville sings well, particularly in the charming With Anne on My Arm, but does not appear confident in his delivery.

By contrast, Chad Wolfe, as Jacob the over-the-top butler/maid, is a little too much of a good thing. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Breeze Bone, as Jean-Michel’s fiancée Anne, delivers a believable, workmanlike characterization.

Bending gender for the nightclub chorus line of Cagelles makes sense in the context and some of the ideas for their dance routines have possibilities. But, sadly, they are poorly executed, with too many missteps and too much wobbling. It seems that the group would benefit from more rehearsal time. In addition, the sequence in which the whip-wielding Hanna delivers an S and M routine is particularly distasteful in view of a current high-profile court case. (It is possible that the rights included a commitment not to make any cuts to the script.)

In any case, despite periodic glitches and slow set changes (the design by Elaine McCausland is actually well set up to switch easily from venue to venue) Proulx’s performance and the obvious joy that the players are having ensure that La Cage aux Folles is rarely a drag.

La Cage aux Folles continues at the Centrepointe Theatre Studio to December 7.

 

La Cage aux Folles

Book by Harvey Fierstein

Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman

Based on the play by Jean Poiret

Suzart Productions

Director: Susan Fowler-Dacey

Musical director: Gabriel Leury

Set designer/technical director: Elaine McCausland

Choreographer: Dani Bone-Corbishley

Lighting: Alan Viau

Sound: Shauna-Lee Thompson

Costumes: Maureen Russell

 

Cast:

Albin.Zaza……………………………………………..Kraig-Paul Proulx

Georges………………………………………………..Jim Baldwin

Jean-Michel……………………………………………Jay Landreville

Jacob…………………………………………………..Chad Wolfe

Anne Dindon…………………………………………..Mackenzie Breeze Bone

Edouard Dindon……………………………………….Dave Corbishley

Marie Dindon………………………………………….Mary Lou Hulan

Jacqueline………………………………………………Jacqueline Roy

M. Renaud……………………………………………..Liam Gosson

Mme. Renaud………………………………………….Lynn Harper-Ciaronni

Francis………………………………………………….Les Hope

Hanna…………………………………………………..Kevin Fowler Dacey

Bitelle…………………………………………………..Caitlin Mears

Chantal…………………………………………………Gwyneth Whalen-Hughes

Phaedra…………………………………………………Mahtab Sabet

Dermah…………………………………………………Val Ladouceur

Clo-Clo…………………………………………………T.J. Wong

Mercedes………………………………………………..Megan Hulan

Angelique……………………………………………….Jamie Rice

Odette…………………………………………………..Stef Fairbairn

Hercule et al……………………………………………Ross Couchman

Tabarro et al……………………………………………Adam Goldberg

Etienne et al………………………………………….Emi Lanthier

Fisherman et al……………………………………….Alex Shephard

Babette et al………………………………………….Rita Thompson

 

Musicians

Mark Allen, Pierre Desjardins, Lisa Concessi Maclean, Chris MacArthur, Shawn MacArthur, Jason Sinkus, Allan Snider, Chris Thiessen, Joanne Thiessen