Cast members of ‘La Cage Aux Folles.’

Cast members of ‘La Cage Aux Folles.’

I saw the movie “The Birdcage” back in 1996 and I thought it was okay. The reason I now know that it was simply okay is that they left out the music.

The show that the movie was based on was “La Cage Aux Folles,” (The Cage of Mad Women) a 1983 Broadway show that received nine Tony Award nominations and won six. The 2004 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival and the 2010 revival won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Why did the show win so many accolades? Simple, the story is good, (even daring) but the addition of the music by Jerry Herman made it a great show. This show is now playing at the Arundel Barn Playhouse and I have nothing but praise for its production there.

Morton Gold

Morton Gold

The story takes place during a summer in St. Tropez, France. There is a nightclub there that features a chorus of guys dressed in drag and the featured “lady” headliner, Albin is marvelously played and sung by Billy Goldstein. He is incredibly good in this part. The owner of the nightclub and his partner, Georges is given a superb performance by David Dennison. The plot soon thickens when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel (Eric Berry- Sandelin) tells his father that he is engaged (to Anne) and that her parents will be coming for a visit.

Anne’s father is the head of a political morality party (read anti-gay) and Jean- Michel sings of his feelings for his fiancee in the song “With Anne On My Arm.” This song, like every other song in the show, advances the story and is not there only to give the singers an opportunity to sing a song. Even though Albin has functioned as Jean-Michel’s mother all his life, the young man wants his birth mother to be present at the meeting. Georges effectively sings of his feelings for Albin in the lovely ballad “Song on the Sand.” Eventually, Albin is told that he cannot be present when the future in-laws come and sings what is probably the most telling song of the show “I Am What I Am.”

True to form, Jean-Michel’s real mother backs out of coming and Albin comes to the rescue. She makes a reservation to a fine restaurant where Jacqueline, the owner (Brigette Estola) asks Albin to sing. She does and sings what is the most lyrical song of the show, “The Best of Times.” All the participants join in and all goes well until at the end Albin removes his/her wig and Anne’s parents (John Bergeron and Emily Davis) realize that she is a he. Anne declares her love for Jean-Michel and will not leave with her parents. Meanwhile photographers/ reporters get wind of a scandal. To avoid detection the parents take part in the show (the papa in drag and the staid mother in costume as well) and all ends in a reprise of “The Best of Times.”

A hit show has points of light and this is no exception. I’ve previously mentioned the outstanding performance of Goldstein. He is incredibly good in this role. One minor character nearly steals the show, Ben Cirdia as Jacob is outrageous as Albin’s butler (maid?) and Curtis Reynolds has an extended falsetto solo at the start of the show that is remarkable. The dancing of the ensemble, guys in drag and girls in matching costumes (by Timothy Reed) is outstanding. They dance well, including tap dancing. The director/ choreographer, Joseph Cullinane knows his craft and there is as much for the eye as well as for the ear. Raymond Bailey, music director, and his colleagues, Nicolas Allen (bass) and Nate Gowen, percussion, deserve a wellearned pat on the back.

Ultimately, the real stars are the ones not seen who created this powerful and meaningful show: Harvey Fierstein who wrote the book (based on a play by Jean Poiret) and Jerry Herman who wrote the gorgeous music made more so by his lyrics. The last three shows take place on Aug. 13-15. I thoroughly enjoyed this show and if you are able to see it, I believe you will too.

Dr. Gold is a composer/conductor and an arts reviewer for the Journal Tribune.


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