Jean Poiret’s La Cage Aux Folles is making a limited appearance at the Playhouse Theatre after succeeding with a sell out run at London’s Menior Chocolate Factory. Whilst there the show achieved great success and critical acclaim and so its appearance at the Playhouse is not one to be missed. Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson appear in leading roles, as the play makes its transfer on October 20th 2008
The play concerns the gay couple Georges, night club owner, and Albin, drag act and star of the La Cage Aux Folles nightclub. They live a comfortable existence, having been together for 20 years, which is threatened as Georges’ son becomes engaged to the daughter of a right-wing politician. Soon enough, things are turned upside down as his son’s fiancé wants to have the club closed down, taking with it the local nightlife. The play itself focuses on the drama that ensues as Georges son brings his fiancés parents to meet him. Inevitably, Georges wants Albin to lay low for a while, much to his irritance. They are forced to take drastic action to hide and preserve their lifestyle from the ultra-conservative parents, and to preserve the club they cherish.
Originally written in 1973 by Jean Poiret, the play is popular for its funny gags and the touching ending, which also won over audiences when the source material was adapted into 1978 movie of the same name (at its time the most successful foreign film to be released in the US). As a result the play is celebrated as a timeless tale, which is humorous whilst it deals with issues of family values, love and the right to be who we are and be proud of it.
As well as a movie, the play has also been adapted as a musical and this production takes that lead as Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly!, Mack and Mabel and Mame) provides a fabulous score, which includes I Am What I Am, The Best of Times and Song on the Sand.
The limited run at the Playhouse means that tickets are likely to disappear quickly, so make sure you add La Cage Aux Folles to your list of must-see productions in London’s West End this October.