Riedel: Mandy Patinkin wants to star in LA CAGE — Page 2

Apparently alone in my opinion that he'll be great in this part.

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I could see Patinkin in this role only if the director is strong enough to rein in his excesses and prevent him from providing any of the show-offy "Mandy moments" that have marred many of his performances.

Oh, and only if Mandy gets a proper med evaluation prior to opening night.

Georges is also a master of ceremonies for the club, so he's not exactly a shrinking violet. It could be a good fit for Patinkin, both in the showbizzy aspects of the role, as well as the emotional quotient of such songs as Georges' "Song on the Sand" and "Look Over There" - which in this West End production carried about the same emotional heft as Albin's "I Am What I Am" Act One closer. I also would like to hear him sing these songs.

I've loved Patinkin in some performances and disliked him in others. With the right direction, the role of Georges could really showcase both sides of his performing style. And I thought he was pretty magical the last time he played a character named Georges, so I choose to remain optimistic.

A word too for this production: I recently saw it, with Roger Allam and Philip Quast. I saw and enjoyed (but never really loved) the original production and wondered after the Broadway revival if it was a show that could be successfully revived.

This new production is rather ingenious - being wonderfully intimate for the family drama that is really the center of the show, while still delivering a fun, tawdry glamour for the club numbers, with a pack of Cagelles who truly earn the label, "dangerous". It's a smaller La Cage than we've ever had in NYC, but it still has plenty of sets, costumes, wigs etc., so I felt it managed to have it both ways.

I think it is sensitively directed and conceived and incredibly gay-positive (contrary to what Laurents had to say). La Cage doesn't concern itself with gay marriage, of course, but with that issue remaining a hot button topic in the US, this show, which pleads for tolerance, compassion, and a different notion of what constitutes a family felt suddenly timely.

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Honestly, the only reasons I saw the London revival were that my partner and I both love Graham Norton's show and the fact that my partner had never seen a production of La Cage. While Graham Norton was not a "singer" by any stretch of the imagination, his personality was a good fit for Albin. And after hearing all the fuss over Hodge, I'd love to see his performance. I'm just afraid Patinkin will completely overpower the production. Did anyone see him as Marvin in Falsettos? Even in this clip of "Father to Son", it seems oversung and too deliberate. It's like the song was written by Mamet.

"Kid. Be my. Son. What I've done. To you. Is. Rot. Ten."
Mandy Patinkin sings Father to Son

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It's like the song was written by Mamet.

Lol

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I saw the original & the last revival & had no intention of seeing this one.

The thought of Mandy in it however has me rethinking my decision. The thought of Mandy in this is mind blowing. The latest revival had a problem with one of the lead actors so Mandy would merely be upholding the tradition.

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I saw Mandy in Falsettos. He was bad.

In the article, Mandy never says WHICH role he wants to play. Riedel casts him as Georges because he knows Hodge is coming over. But I too figure Mandy has his eye on Albin. Yeesh.

He lost the Tony to George Hearn in that role...he wants his own revenge!

Updated On: 8/27/09 at 12:13 AM

Toots, that's half, no most of Broadway. That doesn't mean he's right for the role.

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Updated On: 8/27/09 at 10:30 AM

Come now, D2, you know that there's an edict that when a show is revived the original production has to be slagged for one reason or another.

Maybe he should play Jacqueline?

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Also, why is La Cage being revived? It was only 4 years ago since the last one?

Artistically, the last revival disappointed many people and this production is seen as the one that could "put it right". If it's received on Broadway half as well as it has been in the West End, it will do just that.

Commercially, the timing is very, very risky. They're going to need something to sell it on, and I'm not sure "Oops, sorry, the last version was rubbish, but this one's great!" is going to be enough.

I will be very interesting to see (a) who they cast as Georges, and (b) how they market the show. I think it could work, but they're going to need to be very careful.