LA CAGE review - May 25, 2010

This revival of LA CAGE is a real winner! There were no understudies last night so my opinions issued here are of the full original cast...

Firstly, about the show. It's the quintessential musical, with comedy and sentimentalism in perect places throughout the show. Everybody had such great chemistry and I highly recommend this over watching "THE BIRDCAGE" any day...

Kelsey Grammer - What a voice! For a Broadway musical debut, he carries himself as if he has been doing this his entire life. I did not notice one speck of Fraiser...

Douglas Hodge - He's got his Tony all locked up...enough said.

Robin de Jesus - So incredibly cute and funny as Jacob. He has such a youthful effervesence (sp?). Many people have said how annoying him and this character are, but I found him to just be plain, endearing comic relief.

A.J Shively & Elena Shaddow - They are the cutest Jean-Michel & Anne and its believable that they legitimately care for each other though others find their union unsatisfactory.

Fred Applegate & Veanne Cox - My only problem...BORING! That is, until they become Cagelles at the end.

Christine Andreas - Such a fireball! And what a set of pipes she has, she is amazing.

All in all, this show is strong buy and you will enjoy yourself thoroughly just so long as you don't have long legs and site in the front row of the left or right orchestra...

STAGE DOOR INFO: Everybody came out and signed (with the exeception of Elena Shaddow who had to get somewhere)...Grammer, Hodge, and de Jesus are so gracious at the door and will do pretty much anything (sign, pictures etc)

---

Douglas Hodge - He's got his Tony all locked up...enough said.

That's really too bad.

"That's really too bad..."

Why so? He recieved rave reviews, and rightfully so...He deserves that Tony.

---

"Why so? He recieved rave reviews, and rightfully so...He deserves that Tony."

Because his performance is just a stereotypical gay person. There's nothing special about it. Also, his HORRIBLE voice distracts from any acting he may be doing. This shoddy production of this show deserves no Tonys and the same goes for the actors.

Yes - I've never met any gay drag queens who act like Albin. They are all very butch and in no way camp.

"Yes - I've never met any gay drag queens who act like Albin. They are all very butch and in no way camp."

I didn't say he needed to be butch. I'm just saying, everyone is praising his performance, saying that he's revolutionary in the part and I don't see any of that. I only see a British actor trying to play a drag queen on stage, in no way revolutionary.

i agree with action91 in how there really isn't anything new or revolutionary in his performance. regardless he does a wonderful job portraying the role he was given and directed to give. if we start getting into the who deserves what tony award game for whatever performance my vote would go to Sahr well above Douglas.

Count me as another one who doesn't get all of the Hodge worship. Thankfully he didn't win the Drama League award.

"Kelsey Grammer - Boring as hell"-I thought he did a fine job.

"Douglas Hodge - Dreadfully stereotypical"- I agree, plus he had the same facial expression during the entire show. Why is his performance "Tony worthy"?

"Robin de Jesus - Cute but nothing special"- I agree. He is a very versatile performer for sure, though.

"A.J Shively & Elena Shaddow - Oh my god...they were dreadful"- Agreed.

"Christine Andreas - I don't see why everyone is raving about her performance. It's so small and unimportant"- Agreed.

---

Quizking, I worried about your review from the moment you said it was better than watching The Birdcage. Is better than watching La Cage aux Folles, original French movie or stage musical?

The fact that Hodge is British,is a factor. It means he CAN act!!