A Question For Those Who Saw The Original Production of LA CAGE — Page 2

I want to thank everyone who's taken the time to share these stories so far! They really are so touching and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to post them. <3

I never thought a thread could make me cry!!! Such heartfelt accounts from everyone. Thank you for sharing your memories with those of us young people who owe so much to you. We may not ever be able to comprehend the struggles you endured, but threads like this help to give us an immense appreciation you and for our history. I, for one, will try not to take so much for granted after reading this. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.

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"When La Cage opened in the 1980's it reflected acceptance about being gay, today though La Cage Aux Folles should just be thought of in the context of just a great musical."

Why? In a time where, in America, gays and lesbians are denied marriage equality, La Cage aux Folles should be just as important as it was.

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So how do people feel about A Chorus Line and its portrayal of gay people, when compared to La Cage?

I remember La Cage as having a straight sensibility as much as a gay one. The characters and the setting were gay, but the story was fairly universal. It was nice that it was completely accessible to our parents and grandparents who weren't used to gay-themed anything, except us their gay-themed sons, and they were still working on being comfortable with that. It was definitely a score for our team.

You are ill-informed.

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Updated On: 4/10/10 at 10:38 PM

This is a great thread, really moving to read.

Thank you to those who have posted their accounts of the impact of the original production, especially PalJoey for putting it in context so vividly.

There's no doubt there has been a lot of positive change between then and now, but recent events on both sides of the Atlantic (and in other parts of the world) show there is still a long way to go to change some attitudes. I hope this particular production (whatever its critical merits/de-merits) will continue to affirm a message of acceptance and challenge deep-seated prejudices.

Just out of interest, how would it play in the US media / mainstream if one of the Obama's made a visit to see this show?

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I maintain La Cage is even MORE relevant in what you call "the bizarre atmosphere of 2010" than it was in 1983.

So here, for those of you who foolishly believe that being gay is "no longer and issue," are remarks MADE JUST THIS WEEK by former governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who speaks for a great number of fellow Americans:

On marriage equality:

"Even civil unions are not necessary. I think there’s been a real level of being disingenuous on the part of the gay and lesbian community with their goal of civil unions...You don’t go ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that is against the ideal. That would be like saying, well, there are a lot of people who like to use drugs, so let’s go ahead and accommodate those who want who use drugs. There are some people who believe in incest, so we should accommodate them. There are people who believe in polygamy, so we should accommodate them.'"

On gay adoption and foster care:

"I think this is not about trying to create statements for people who want to change the basic fundamental definitions of family. And always we should act in the best interest of the children, not in the seeming interest of the adults...Children are not puppies. This is not a time to see if we can experiment and find out, how does this work?"

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Updated On: 4/10/10 at 11:27 PM

Absolutely. If Ronald Reagan couldn't spoil my good times in the 1980s, what makes you think Mike Huckabee can now?

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Yes, but Mike Huckabee reflects republican god fearing rhetoric, or am I ill-informed?