Question about La Cage Character

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 12:40am

Okay, I know the Story of La Cage and I know the Music(pretty well too) and I've seen part of "The Birdcage", but I've never actually seen the Musical.

Anyways, A Theater in my area is going to do this musical and I REALLY want to be in it! I have some questions about some character.

Okay, The Maid/houseboy/Hank Azaria character is named Jacob right? I looked it up on ibdb.com because I thought I knew who the actor was playing him. Anyways, What is the Story of this Character? All I know, is that I read somewhere that this is a scene-stealing role(which I like!), and I'm not for sure if he sings or not. He may sing in the Dinner scene, something about leap frog, but not sure if that's him. Anyways, any info. will help :0)

[tim10086]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 12:44am

Jacob is played by a black actor in all the stage versions. As you've said, he's the maid, and he likes to joke around with Georges and get on his nerves a bit, etc.

The only singing he does is in the dinner scene, but his line is "It's apalling to confess/our new in-laws are a mess..."

Not a lot to the role, but what there is of him is brilliant comedically.

Tim

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 12:51am

Thank You! I'm White , but I am in Texas, so I guess we'll just have to see who shows up at auditions. I don't suppose it refers to him being black in the script does it? Perhaps just a trend that's been done a lot, kinda like Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar?

[Theatrical Landladies]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 7:41am

Hi MTVMANN Jacob refers to himself as an "Ebony goddess" but I suppose that could be cut! Is this an amatuer version? If so you should really want to be a CAGELLE! Great fun. I did the show twice once as a cagelle and once as Jean Michelle (now there is a terrible role!). If you have the original costumes, wig designs, make up etc it REALLY is a blast to be a Cagelle!

"I'm a beautiful girl, mama........."

[grizzabella]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 3:38pm

As you say, if it's up to who shows up to audition, AND your director decides to break with tradition, Jakob is a hoot of a part. There's very little singing, except in the dinner party seen,as has been mentioned, but there is lots of opportunity for comedy. But by all means, try for a role as a Cagelle, especially is you can dance. They're brilliant!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 3:47pm

Doesn't he sig high, opera-ish like at the very end, when they are escaping?

[grizzabella]

Posted: 8/28/05 at 7:48pm

I think you're right, Thenardier. I was listening to my OBC of La Cage recently, and Jakob does end on a very high, tenor note on which he either goes into falsetto, or comes very close. I don't have a score in front of me, but I would guess it is somewhere around a tenor high A. Do you agree?