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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-family:Palatino;
color:black">Disappointing LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Palace</span></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Member, American Theatre Critics Association</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">LORAIN
COUNTY TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW TIMES</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">--<a href="http://COOLCLEVELAND.COM">COOLCLEVELAND.COM</a>—</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br>
When LA CAGE AUX FOLLES opened on Broadway in 1983, the gay rights movement was
in its infancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Harvey Fierstein’s
book and Jerry Herman’s lyrics and music brought the subject of long term gay
relationships, drag queens, societal attitudes toward same sex couples, and
homosexual parenting to the fore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The show, which received nine Tony Award nominations, was, in the minds
of some, very controversial and opened many topics for discussion and action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">The times, they have
changed, and now the subject matter carries little, if any debate, but the
themes are still significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Most gays accept the philosophy of the song, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">I Am What I Am</i>, which has become the homosexual communities’
unofficial national anthem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The
song is a defiant statement of the need for self pride:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:
Verdana">It's my world, That I want to have a little pride, My world,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And it's not a place I have to hide in,
Life's not worth a dam, Till I can say, I am what I am.</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino">LA CAGE </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:
Helvetica">focuses on a gay <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"></span></a>couple in a committed, long term relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>It’s Saint-Tropez, France.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Georges, the manager of a nightclub featuring drag <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_queen"><span style="color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"></span></a>entertainment, and
Albin, the star attraction, must deal with their son Jean-Michel’s impending
engagement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The boy, George’s
biological son, the result of a drunken tryst, has been mothered by Albin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What to do when the fiancée’s father is
an ultra-conservative politician, and has insisted on meeting the parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course farcical situations ensue,
interlaced with moving emotional moments.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The show’s melodic and memorable score includes
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">A Little More Mascara</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">With Anne on My Arm</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Look Over There</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">The Best of Times</i>, and the title tune.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">I like musicals with a message, and, since LA
CAGE is filled with vital themes for life including the need for positive
self-esteem, the stand against narrow minded thinking, and homophobia, it ranks
as one of my favorite shows.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Therefore, the version now on stage, being
presented as part of the Broadway series, was a major disappointment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">On the positive side, Christopher Sieber’s
Albin is top notch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sieber has a
great voice, sings meaning just not words, plays both comedy and drama to the
hilt, and creates a consistent characterization.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Billy Harrigan Tighe gives a nice textured performance as
Jean-Michel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Allison Blair
McDowell is a charming Anne. <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Petite </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#1F1D1D">Gay Marshall
adds a lot personality to the proceedings as restaurant owner Jacqueline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:
13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The orchestra is
good, with special attention to trumpet player Bill Dowling.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">On the other hand, in the original production
the Les Cagelles, were a gorgeous line of dancers whose gender was guessed at until
they removed their wigs at the end of the show.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Not so in this whittled down production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The six dancers were masculine and played
for laughs rather than creating illusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>This is typical of Terry Johnson’s directing.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>He seems more interested in farce and slapstick than in the
show’s meaningful themes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Jeigh Madjus knows no restraint as Jacob, the
family’s “maid.” He goes so overboard that he becomes a caricature who blows
the natural humorous lines by overdoing the fey. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Lynn Page’s choreography was uncreative and
generally plodding, even in the usually spectacular birdcage number.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">The biggest flaw in the production, was the
wooden performance of George Hamilton as Georges.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>He displayed about as much charisma as his cardboard cutout
in the theatre’s lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a
wonder that Sieber could develop such a fine Albin playing opposite a
performance which made so little attempt to build rapport between the two.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: In spite of a
wonderful script, great music, and a fine performance by Christopher Sieber, LA
CAGES AUX FOLLES is a disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>The barebones production lacks the dynamic soul to make it a meaningful
and fully entertaining evening of theatre. </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">For tickets call <span style="color:black">216-241-6000 or go to <u><a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org">www.playhousesquare.org</a></u>.</span></span></p>