Can Robert Goulet Save La Cage? — Page 2

Mamie, you know I agree with you. I am still stunned at how the "firing" was announced. Certainly not in the tradition of the theater or in most professional businesses.
Dollypop, of course, you too are right about Naughton...and he went on to win a (generous) Tony for the CHICAGO revival.

Junglered, I am pleased you enjoyed the show so much. LA CAGE was never my favorite Jerry Herman show (ironically I did enjoy it much more the second time I saw it at the Palace theater--perhaps it was because the second time I had much better seats?)but its original production was certainly always a delightful evening in the theater. I always thought some of les cagelles numbers were a bit too long and that the "book" of the show was pretty bad. However, it was still a sublime way to spend an evening among some gorgeous music, sets, sounds, dancing and some lovely performances. (I expected George Hearn to be great when I saw the show, I was surprised at how much I also enjoyed Gene Barry--Keene Curtis and Peter Marshall were an excellent pair too......Curtis could not sing the way Hearn could (who else can?) but he was excellent and I recall Peter Marshall's acting being very touching and sensitive.

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Hey, Jungle What else did you see?

I just don't understand why Goulet? There are so many talented middle-aged actor: Brian Stokes Mitchell or Terence Mann. They could do better. I don't even think there will be a CD from this show within two month. Sadly.

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I would think Terrence Mann as Georges and Douglas Sills as Albin would inject much needed life, humor, and energy into the show. They were so good as enemies in Pimpernel; imagine them as a couple!

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Updated On: 5/27/05 at 12:58 PM

This revival was stillborn upon it's miscasting of Beach, bland and obivious at every turn.

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I am one of the people out of town and I don't think that nowadays Goulet would be a familiar name than Terrence Mann or Douglas on Broadway. They had several performances in the past five-seven years. How many shows involved Goulet in tha past 20 years?

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Updated On: 4/22/05 at 04:49 PM

They should have gotten either Harvey or Nathan Lane for Georges. The fact that they staged this revival with no big star spelled disaster from the start. I thought the direction in this revival was particularly clumsy and straight forward as well, not to mention the terrible set pieces. Boo

At least with Harvey it would have been heartfelt instead of the plastic lounge lizard singing that Mr. Goulet has become famous for.

I still think that Daniel Davis's rendition of "Song on the Sand" is the best I've ever heard - direct and very touching, I'm sorry I won't have a chance to see his performance again.

Thanks Mamie, I started this campaign and the recording producer plans to see it through. We continue to look for more investors and the producers are reconsidering there stance now. I havent seen Goulet yet and am not going to until May-just to give him some time, I feel its only right. But I do agree that Davis was one of the MAJOR reasons I wanted this album to happen, that SONG ON THE SAND was better than lovely! But, a full American version recording of this show NEEDS to be made, and of this production!

Broadway is always at its best when you find yourself touched deeply, and Daniel provided that for me during his rendition of Song on the Sand. Can Mr. Goulet do the same for me next month when I go? I can only hope so, but you have to admit, that his age for the role, his orientation, and any tarnish to his voice will get in the way. I think Mr. Goulet will rise to the occasion and his attitude about the show seems very progressive and upbeat. Kiss a guy, big deal. It seems like young straight men are into that right now anyway, so maybe he's more contemporary than he's being given credit. Most posts seem only speculative, so I guess we will have to be our own judges.

We came away nickpicking the preview show we saw, but overall and months later, the memory of it remains very endearing and worthy of its lights on broadway. I hope it continues to shine.

By the way, seeing the show from the front row of the balcony was a real treat. It gives you a chance to see just how hard those Cagelles work each performance. My hat remains off to them!