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Show: La Cage aux Folles [The Play]
Society: Park Theatre (professional)
Venue: Park200, Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London
Credits: By Jean Poiret. Translated by Simon Callow. Park Theatre and Adam Blanshay Productions present the English Language World Premiere
Type: Sardines
Author: Jess Pether
Performance Date: 12/02/2020
La Cage aux Folles [The Play]
Jess Pether | 20 Feb 2020 17:06pm
The cast of La Cage aux Folles [The Play] at Park Theatre. Photo: Mark Douet
La Cages aux Folles has previously been seen as a French play (the original iteration), a French film, a musical and an American film (The Birdcage) starring Robin Williams, but never before has it been translated and performed in English.
Director Jez Bond (co-founder of the Park Theatre) and adapter Simon Callow bring to life this camp romp of a farce, sticking faithfully to the original setting of St Tropez in the early seventies. Act one is set in the lounge of nightclub owner Georges and his drag queen partner, the over-dramatic Albin. The scenery is light and exotic with plenty of space for the actors to sweep around.
Michael Matus plays Georges, a thicket of chest hair nestling underneath a deep vee and gold medallion. Michael gives boundless energy to the part, literally glistening with sweat by the middle of act two. The further his character descends into panic throughout the show, the more he has a touch of Basil Fawlty about him, which is very funny. Georges is regularly exasperated by partner Albin (Paul Hunter), who looks spectacular in a shimmering gold gown and beautiful wig. Paul gives a convincing portrayal of the more feminine of the two men but on occasion, stumbled over a handful of his lines.
The pace of dialogue throughout the show is appropriately speedy, just the way it should be for a story which goes from one car crash to another. These dilemmas involve Laurent, Georges son, who declares he is marrying his sweetheart Muriel. She unfortunately has deeply Christian and morally upright parents… who wish to meet their far-from-conventonial in-laws.
Arthur Hughes as Laurent is good and reminds me of the young actor who plays the part in The Birdcage. Jacob, the house “help” with an aversion to clothes and a desire to perform, is played by Syrus Lowe. He embodies the part, simply relishing every line, cackle and gesture.
As an audience member, it’s important to be drawn into whatever reality a production is selling you, and though La Cage accomplishes this in the main, there are a couple of questionable decisions; the main one being a lack of real food and drink (Champagne, tea, caviar and jam to be specific). As soon as someone pours air from a Champagne bottle, for me the spell is momentarily broken, and I remember I’m watching actors. The production also allows Albin to break the fourth wall several times, as he throws quips at the audience and even sits amongst them. A dislike of this latter technique is a personal preference, but it gave the play a bit of a confused feel at times.
Act two sees a stripped back living space and the arrival of Muriel (Georgina Ambrey) and Monsieur and Madame Priedieu (Simon Hepworth and Louise Bangay). I didn’t realise until I checked the programme that Simon had appeared in act one as a drag queen! Safe to say he transforms from this to the stuffy homophobic Priedieu seamlessly.
There are several clever scenes throughout, including Mark Cameron’s comic portrayal of an art-loving butcher and when the door to the nightclub becomes a confessional between Georges and Albin. I liked these touches, and I liked the show. It’s full of snappy one-liners, delightful campness and an important moral message (which sadly still resonate today). This mix makes for a pleasant evening’s viewing.
(L-R) Michael Matus (Georges), Paul Hunter (Albin) and Peter Straker (Tabaro) in La Cage aux Folles [The Play] at Park Theatre. Photo: Mark Douet
- : admin
- : 12/02/2020