The proposed revival of LA CAGE

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 11:15am

Just read in Mandlebaum that Zaks might direct Gary Beach and Denis O'Hare in a big LA CAGE revival. Of all the shows that might come back -- even Jerry Herman shows -- this is the most ho-hum to me. Needs to jump into the new century.

I always felt it was a gay PORGY AND BESS (minus the genius of Gershwin) -- a show that even otherwise 'phobic straight people could attend and exit patting themselves on the back for their "tolerance." (Oh, those darned fun-to-watch homos!). Perhaps the show would be less bridge-tunnel friendly -- and more daring -- if Harvey would update the show and have the guys get MARRIED at the end, along with the son. To be other than a bowl of warmed over sequins, the show needs some teeth. Political or otherwise.

Updated On: 12/15/03 at 11:15 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 11:22am

I never cared for the musical either. Trying to promote acceptance and equality of the gay community by using the worst stereotypes. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so preachy and the score wasn't so sugar-coated. How many times do we have to hear the chorus of The Best of Times? Jerry Herman likes to run one song into the ground in all his shows. If the book and score were revised, I might give it some interest. That, and a fresh new look.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 11:27am

You guys are preaching to the chior here.

It needs to be rewritten with a lot more bite. And unless you include some physical affection between the two leads - and strong suggestions that these two men actually have sex WITH EACH OTHER - they might as well just bag it.

Remember the original show logo (by the same artist who did MAME)...and when it was replaced with a generic photo of a high-kicking chorus girl (and yes, it REALLY was a girl)?

Updated On: 12/15/03 at 11:27 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 11:35am

I don't remember the replacement photo. 1988 was my first trip to Broadway and the original logo was still up in Times Square. Yeah, the show really does treat the relationship with rather sterile kid gloves. A kind of look-at-the-cute-gays! No wonder the theatre-party senior crowds considered themselves liberal by attending the show. There was nothing to suggest passion or desire between the leads. Two men who supposedly love each other, but never touch each other (except to walk arm-in-arm during Snooze....I mean, Song on the Sand). Had the authors NEVER spent a day with a gay couple?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 11:49am

For some reason, I think Denis O'Hare's involvement -- a gay actor who's out -- and Harvey's recent impassioned stance on marriage, etc -- might inspire rewrites. But remembering the show, all the lessons to turn Albin butch, etc. -- makes me think the piece is too era-specific. Actually, it was dated in the 80s; now, it would seem thin, pandering. It's not that it has to be PC, but it was never the laugh riot it purported to be. How funny is it anymore, watching dull straight people discover their "inner drag queen." (Birdcage) The show got away with a lot of gay step n'fetchit-ing by giving Albin "I Am What I Am." No one noticed (enough) that what he "am" was a safely sexless version of that mincing supporting role in NEVER GONNA DANCE.

Updated On: 12/15/03 at 11:49 AM

[orion59]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 12:35pm

I thought it was an ok show but, I would much prefre to watch the original French movie.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 3:25pm

Jerry Herman mentioned to me that Harvey had come up with an idea to make the show "more gritty". I don't exactly know what that means. Remember Trevor Nunn's OKLAHOMA! was supposed to be "gritty" and all that meant was putting Laurey into bib overalls and making her look butch.

Updated On: 12/15/03 at 03:25 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 6:00pm

A "gritty" Jerry Herman show makes me howl.

To keep the show as it is, yet "gritty," I'd lose the sexless relationship between the men. Make Albin slightly younger, George's "2nd wife," sort of a trophy one, hot in temperament and looks, more of a Hedwig era drag, less beholden to the TORCH SONG style (not to knock that--but we've seen it, yawn). Change Albin's politics accordingly, make him less tolerant of STRAIGHT people, more into his radical drag act, the club he performs in attracting younger gays. Lose all the pastel dinner jackets and bow ties and "poufter" accoutrements. Of course, then you'd have ... TABOO ... with a Jerry Herman score.

Updated On: 12/15/03 at 06:00 PM

Posted: 12/15/03 at 7:15pm

Yet another show with a gay or drag character is just getting tedious.

I know many of you will disagree.

Bulldog.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 7:29pm

If Harvey re-writes the book, I'd really be excited to see the production. Gary Beach and Dennis O' Hare would be great!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/15/03 at 8:46pm

Despite all my talky posts above, I actually agree with Bulldog. Suffering and/or triumphant drag queens in musicals is so been-there, done-that. I'm ready for a musical about a gay toll booth clerk who yearns to be a tourist.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 10:58am

And AIDS. I'm tired of AIDS being in gay material. I loved Falsettos and know that Falsettoland was written during the height of the scare, but we are waaaaay beyond that now.

No drag queens, No AIDS, No Judy, No Liza, No Barbra, No Bette.

There are gay men out there who resemble regular people without all the icons and stereotypes. Something like How to Succeed where Rosemary is actually Robert. Something where the issue of being gay is not actually the focus of the show.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 11:04am

Yes, yes, yes -- all the posters above who frown upon a revival o' this show are absolutely correct. Hated it then, would hate it now. So tired and stereotypical, with a less than stellar score, no less.

[orion59]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 11:30am

There are gay men who RESEMBLE Regular people?
That's odd, I always thought I actually was a regular person. How horrible it is to find I only resemble one.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 11:43am

orion59 - Pfffff !! Semantics, semantics, semantics. Notice I never used the term "normal" (Thank God). I, however am in no way "regular". I consider myself to be extraordinary. Despite what the outside world may think.

[tpdc]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 12:57pm

There would need to be more work done on the book to revive this 1984 musical than anything they did for KISS ME KATE or WONDERFUL TOWN. The appalling Reagan era sensibility about gay people would never play on Broadway in 2004 along side of AVENUE Q, BOY FROM OZ, TAKE ME OUT, TABOO, RENT and CABARET. When I saw this in 1984, aside from being disappointed in the show's timid approach to the story of a middle aged long time gay couple, I was even more disappointed that it was not even funny. I don't think I laughed once. The film versions are problematic but both are much more funny than the musical. Does anyone remember Arthur Laurents and Jerry Herman giving interviews saying they were counting on Harvey for advice on the gay issues? Like they knew nothing about being gay???? Another reason not to like the show.

[nyctopone]

Posted: 12/16/03 at 8:30pm

I remember Arthur Laurents made a comment in the press that he and Jerry were happy to have Harvey involved because there should be at least one gay man involved in writing the show. Who did those two queens think they were fooling?