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La Cage Aux Folles Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton **** THIS award laden 1983 musical farce was a
big hit almost 20 years ago when Pro Am Productions produced it at the
Grand on what was to be a remarkable nine year journey around the
country. It originated as a sort of thank you after his
own battle with cancer by Jeremy Hobbs and the production made a
substantial donation to the Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton. The revival is helping the same cause with
Jeremy, manfully battling a throat infection on opening night, as
Georges, the owner of a transvestite nightclub in St Tropez, and star of
the original, Tony O'Rourke, still shining bright, reprising the role of
Albin, his gay, transvestite, drag queen lover. The pair are helped or hindered by their butler,
or is it maid Jacob, played by the larger than life – in more ways than
one – Donovan Cary who is a mountain of fun. The plot is simple. Georges' son Jean Michel
(George Stuart) wants to marry Anne (Adele Robinson) and has
invited her parents, the ultra right-wing, anti-gay, anti-transvestite
and anti-anything not married and missionary politician Edward Dindon
(Steve Bracey) and his wife Marie (Julia Tromans) to meet his parents.
Parents being the operative word, father and . . . mother. Mother being a one night stand of a somewhat
investigative nature by the gay Georges backstage in Paris 24 years ago. Jean Michel, has been raised by his father and
his lover but wants Albin out of the way and his real mother in for the
night – which is devastating to Albin but when the real mother, as usual
sends her apologies, he manfully, or in this case, womanfully steps in
as the “wife”
It times it is funny at times very sad and
moving, much more so in 1983 when the show opened on Broadway when
openly gay men could face a torrid time. Highlights of the show were
Albin's solos as the aging, fading drag artist first reflects on his
life with A little More Mascara and then proclaims it with the
moving gay anthem, I am what I am. Opening night was unfortunately beset with
problems though, particularly with the brought in sound equipment with
George Stuart, a student at Birmingham Conservatoire, crackling like a
bowl of Rice Krispies whenever he moved, a trait picked up by other
characters leaving the sound techs struggling to find levels with
volumes going up and down like a department store lift, while lighting
cues were all a bit hit and miss. There were times when the excellent orchestra,
from The Midland Concert Orchestra, under Musical Director Jonathan Hill
drowned out dialogue with background music, so work on levels needed
there. It was always a risk that would have to be taken
as the show could not get in until the Russian Ballet left after
midnight on the day of opening night. That meant Orchestra in during the night
and an 8am start for first full rehearsals – less than 12 hours to show
time - and the all important tech rehearsals- and as anyone who has ever
been in a big show can tell you, techs in unfamiliar surroundings can
take up most of a day and still be flying by the seat of their sliders.
The show was helped by the fact it had recently
been produced by Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society which provided the
bulk of the amateurs and the director of their show, Mike Capri, so the
chorus numbers from Les Cagelles – a mix of women and men in drag - and
the Birds, who were . . . well birds, looked slick and well rehearsed as
did the whole show apart from the technical hiccoughs. No doubt these will be sorted out for the rest of
the run to leave an enjoyable show. One of the funniest moment, incidentally, came
entirely unintentionally towards the end when Dindon under siege from
the Press is wanting to be rescued by Georges and Albin and says” Isn't
it about time you got me out of here?” And Gorges replies: “Well there is a way . . . “
At which point, behind them, the door to the apartment developed a
mind of its own and slowly swung open. It was that sort of evening. To
25-02-12. Roger Clarke And in the posh frock
at the back . . . **** IT was back in 1993 that Pro Am
Productions launched their version of this heart-warming musical at the
Grand, and its welcome return for a 20th anniversary event is helping
raise funds for the local Compton Hospice. As the official programme explains, however, it
would not have been possible without the support of Stourbridge Amateur
Operatic Society who had put on the show as recently as October last
year, and a number of members from the company were able to take part. There were a few first night snags with sound,
lighting, costumes and one of the professional leads, Jeremy Hobbs,
having to battle through with a throat infection, but the cast coped
well and delivered a rousing finale that had many in the audience on
their feet for a standing ovation. Veteran actor Hobbs plays Georges, master of
ceremonies at the controversial St Tropez night club and partner of the
floor show's star Albin, a popular transvestite who has helped raise
George's son, Jean Michel (George Stuart). Tony O'Rourke first played Albin in a North
Staffs production in 1991, and he proves that age is no object to his
exceptional singing and acting skills - not to mention the ability to
apply make up while singing A Little More Mascara, donning a wig
and emerging as an attractive 'woman'. And it's a case of spot the gays from the gals as
the superbly costumed Les Cagelles stage a high-kicking dance in the
night club before the lads whip of their wigs to reveal all. For the big final scene on opening night Barry
Smart, the hospice chaplain, playing Francis, joined Albin for the big
number The Best of Times is Now, allowing Hobbs to rest his
throat. A fine performance. Directed by Mike Capri, La Cage runs to 25.02.12 Paul Marston
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