LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

I have rarely seen such an enthusiastic and appreciative audience as the one for La Cage aux Folles on Opening Night at the Pasadena Playhouse! The constant laughter and applause was downright raucous at times!

This musical has a very long and storied history, so if you’re interested in knowing it all, I encourage you to research it a bit. But the gist of the story is about a grown-up gay couple in France, one who owns the drag queen club downstairs from their apartment, while the other is the star of the revue. And family and political dramas ensue, along with tons of humor and wonderful musical numbers. That’s all you need to know going in. Oh, and it’s all quite fabulous, of course!

In today’s world of ever-increasing inclusivity, this is the perfect time for this revival.

I had seen a revival of La Cage aux Folles on Broadway about twenty years ago, and although this show follows the same script, it’s a very modern version of it. There’s nothing 1983 about it at all. (But, sadly, the prejudice of fools is still with us.)

La Cage aux Folles began as a French play in 1973, which then became a French film five years later. The fun and warm tale was then turned into a Broadway musical in 1983, followed by yet another non-musical movie, this time an American one, The Birdcage, in 1996. That one is set in Miami, (perhaps so we’d be spared the cast’s attempts at French accents.) So it’s a tad weird that this production keeps the location as France, yet not one character has a French accent! There are many references to that they’re in that country, (names of locations, political titles, etc.,) so that’s all a bit confusing.

But we’re there for the music and laughs. And for Cheyenne Jackson’s abs, of course! He plays the owner of the club. Every gay guy, and many straight women, love, love, love them some Cheyenne Jackson! And with that lovely voice, which I could listen to all day,  and those eyes, I can see why.

My other favorite is Ryan J. Haddad, who plays the newly-engaged son of the main couple, and whose casting I must laud the Pasadena Playhouse for. Ryan has cerebral palsy, and uses a walker, so at first I didn’t know if that was a character trait I didn’t remember. And then I realized that was all a part of the actor himself. I’m so glad he’s in this show because his voice is beautiful! And his delivery is hilarious. Ryan is a revelation. I actually forgot all about the walker pretty quickly. I hope to see him work a lot more in the future.

And Nicole Parker’s brief hilarious bit near the end is not to be missed.

Kevin Cahoon’s performance, in general, is tons of fun, but his singing voice gets a tad too gravelly for some of us, (including for my friend and people I spoke to at intermission.) I had the great fortune of seeing the unparalleled Gary Beach play Albin on Broadway about twenty years ago, so, of course, anyone would pale by comparison.

But I have to give Kevin some props for this—from the back of the orchestra, he kept reminding me of Carol Burnett, especially during his big song before intermission, when he was complete with her famous “I saw it in the window and just had to have it,” attire!

The entire opening night audience seemed to adore George Salazar, who plays the couple’s maid. I had seen him play Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at this same theater a couple years ago, and wrote that “I was especially impressed” with his vocals, so I already knew he has a beautiful voice. He’s hilarious in his own role, but perhaps he can switch roles with Kevin one night so we can hear George sing more than he does as the maid. Maybe there’s an “opposite day” coming up!

As to the “Cagelles,” the performers at the drag club, I could not take my eyes off Cody Brunelle-Potter, who has the best Cirque du Soleil-esque movements.

The big song from La Cage aux Folles is I Am What I Am, which is a wonderful anthem for all of us.

But The Best of Times, which is the second act showstopper, was the absolute highlight of the show for me. And from all the whooping and hollering in the audience when it was over, (perhaps loudest of all from me,) just about everyone in the opening night audience felt the same way. Just that number alone is worth the price of admission. I could have seen it a couple of more times in a row! The entire cast gets to shine in it.

As someone who has a “Crayon Room” in my house, (don’t ask,) I really enjoyed the very colorful set. And my friend Roz, who had never seen this musical before, said, “The costumes are like Disneyland!”

I have to give a shout-out to the two cast members, Michael McDonald and Nicole Parker, (who play the fiancee’s parents in Act II,) who do the pre-curtain announcements as crazy Frenchmen, and make them the most amusing ones ever!

I believe I enjoyed the old-school Broadway original a bit more, (well, the 2004 revival,) but for younger theatre-goers, I’m thrilled that they have this opportunity to see this timely classic. So everyone needs to get tickets for La Cage aux Folles right now!

So I’ve established that I’m a fan of this show, but the highlight of my evening came at intermission when I met Haley Joel Osment, and finally had the opportunity to tell him just how absolutely brilliant his performance was in The Sixth Sense!  Mr. X and I had just watched it again last month, and were even more blown away by what that kid accomplished than when it came out. And he could not have been more darling to me. He told me that my telling him that was “much appreciated.” So it was mutual appreciation at the Pasadena Playhouse that night, as was all the love from the audience to the actors and right back at us.

La Cage aux Folles running through December 16, 2024
Pasadena Playhouse 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena
626-356-7529 www.pasadenaplayhouse.org