London LA CAGE with Doug Hodge to come to Broadway?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 10:20am

From an interesting Variety interview with Sonia Friedman:

"...holds the rights is roughly four times longer. Chief among them is her current hit West End transfer of the Menier Chocolate Factory production of "La Cage aux Folles," which she's "very, very keen" to take to Broadway, largely to showcase Douglas Hodge in his star-making turn as drag hausfrau Albin.

"There'll be a nervousness because the recent Broadway revival wasn't a success," admits Friedman. "But every American I've spoken to who has seen this one with Doug says it's exciting and different enough to work.""

Very fully agreed. But it would need to be in the Circle in the Square.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000677.html?categoryid=15&cs=1

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 10:27am

I would rather someone other than Hodge. From the clips I've seen, and what I've heard, I felt more like I was being mocked...like he was a little bit *too* camp.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 10:34am

Hodge is fantastic in this show, dont judge of clips you have to see the show, he blew my away as did the show. I sat through the Broadway Revival and was left feeling a bit cold, La Cage in London IS La Cage, and the cast were perfect

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 10:42am

If this does end up transferring (I mean, unless its already happened in the West End), 2 words. Cast Recording. It's a shame they didn't record the revival.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 11:30am

The revival closed only about five years ago, but I guess if the production is that radically different it shouldn't matter.

Slightly off topic, but this quote, referring to The Norman Conquests, caught my eye in the article:

"In London, the trilogy days with all three plays sold out first and we're doing more of them in New York. If you book early, you can see all three plays for $170."

The producer thinks the marathon costs $170, but Telecharge thinks it is $255.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 11:36am

Good offers come to those who wait...

[Taryn]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 11:59am

This production, ESPECIALLY Hodge, is absolutely fantastic. It blows the recent NYC revival out of the water.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 12:26pm

I would love to see this production.

I pretty much despised the last revival.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 12:33pm

"The revival closed only about five years ago, but I guess if the production is that radically different it shouldn't matter."

One word: GYPSY.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 1:13pm

I'm aware of that. The last production of Gypsy while not a financial success, was a critical success that won three Tony awards.

[Mark_E]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 1:27pm

It truely is an amazing production of an amazing show. Broadway will be very lucky to get this, I have seen it twice and want to go again already.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 6:09pm

Jerry Herman told me that LA CAGE is turning out to be his most-often produced show. He said there are productions of it in places he would never have imagined--like Slovakia, the Ukraine and China. Therefore, it wouldn't be a surprise for it to return to Broadway so quickly after its initial revival.

Weren't the Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing revivals of DOLLY! in quick succession? I want to think that Bailey did it at the Minskoffin '76 and Channing did it at the Lunt-Fontanne in '78.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 6:11pm

Frequent revivals don't bother me if they're radically different and/or don't suck (I'm looking at you, Les Mis).

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 6:12pm

Agreed.

I wouldn't mind this production coming to get the bad taste out of my mouth from the last one.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 7:09pm

I don't understand the hate towards the 2004 revival.

It was actually a sweet, hysterical, beautiful & heartwarming time for myself and those I know who saw it.

Gary Beach was lovable, vulnerable, and incredibly funny in turn.

Daniel Davis was a revelation. What a charming Georges and probably the best sung to date.

Les Cagelles were nothing short of incredible.

The costumes and sets were also striking and elegant.

It's still upsetting that the production didn't get recorded for disc, for Daniel Davis and Gavin Creel's vocals if nothing else.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 7:16pm

I have seen La Cage in London and Douglas Hodge.

It give me a good excuse to come out to New York again.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:44pm

Gary Beach was vile!
He just worked that stage cos he had just made it big in 'The Producers'. He looked so uncomfortable and milked the audience for applause for himself even tho the company behind him did all the work.
That production belonged in some theme park.

https://colouredlights.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/lacageimage.png?w=321&h=491

The London production today belongs on Broadway in a smallish theatre and then you will see the true beauty of the piece that has never been seen before.

The gorgeous Playhouse Theatre. The set has actually been incorporated into the theatre itself.



'La Cage' is now a small West End musical, the way it should be done and I hope you guys get a chance to experience it like that next year.
The Music Bx would be perfect.









THE BEST OF PRODUCTIONS IS NOW, IS NOW, IS NOW!



Updated On: 2/28/09 at 09:44 PM

[Brick]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 9:55pm

The 2004 revival was cold and mechanical. Gary Beach was miscast.

It would be ballsy of Sonia Friedman to bring it over, but if its good, then she should!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 2/28/09 at 10:41pm

This production was near perfection for me... douglas hodge was amazing! and Broadway would only be so lucky to have him!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 3:18am

What quaint little theater. Is that were Avenue Q played?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 6:12am

No Avenue Q is still at the Noel Coward till later this month. La Cage is at the Playhouse which is over by Embankment and the riverside. Normally houses plays but has had some musicals for short runs like Footloose and also Dancing in the streets.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 6:38am

Its a little gem of a theatre but is stuck on what the English call 'off the beaten track'. This means it has little, if any, passing trade which in the West End can help a show a hell of a lot. The area is a no go area for tourists as they pass by it by just 100ft on their way to the National Theatre on the other side of the river.
'La Cage' is the most successful show the theatre has had in the 20 years since it was saved from demolition after being derelict from the 50s to the late 80s.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/1/09 at 10:46am

to b honest, i've always heard of the playhouse but never been there til La Cage and what a pretty gorgeous little theatre it is! This might sound weird...but the interior of the theatre to me is like a small scale version of the Coliseum to me.