Thoughts on LA CAGE

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:16pm

Finally got to see the revival and am so glad to have seen it. Let me say first and foremost that Le Cagelles deserve every bit of acclaim they have received and more. Each one manages to stand out yet as a group they truly carry the show on their well-toned shoulders. To single any of them out seems criminal, but Andy Pellick's cage dance (at least I'm assuming it was he - forgive me if I have identified him incorrectly) was jaw-droppingly incredible, Will Taylor out-prettys Nicole Kidman and Brad Musgrove weilds a mean whip. If they each get to shine individually, collectively they are astounding, and the show is at it's best whenever they take the stage.

That said, I have to say I missed the original conceit of having two real women hidden in their midst - I felt it brought a fun guessing game to the proceedings in addition to making the straight boys in the audience a bit more titillated - and therefore more "open" to being attracted to someone who just might be a man under all that stuff. Also, while I will say again that each of the Cagelles are indeed excellent, I felt they hit things a bit hard in the personality department while the originals were directed to be a bit more coy. I was ecstatic to see that the idea of giving the Cagelles one of the final bows was retained - an idea I often wished the stagers of other "chorus-is-the-star musicals would borrow.

As far as the principals go, the naturally charming Gavin Creel wins the vocal honors of the evening, but if his character is so concerned about what an ultra-conservative politico thinks, shouldn't he cut his hair? Or at least wash it?

Angela Gaylor doesn't offer much to make Anne the prize that the plot demands she be, and I think it is a mistake to have eliminated her from the "With Anne On My Arm" song, since it romanticized her through rapturous, etherial dancing. And she didn't have to talk.

Michael Mulheren is fine as her priggish father, and while Linda Balgord has tons of talent, I've seen other actresses nail moments in the normally thankless role of the mother that director Jerry Zaks has missed. Ruth Williamson reminded me once again of why she is a Broadway regular, and I wished she had more to do.

Michael Benjamin Washington really stands out in the showy role of the maid, and has much more to offer than just "hey, look at me, I'm the sassy black maid". He instantly brightens the stage every time he comes on, and I only wish that Jerry Herman had written a song for his character. If the character had a chunk of material, rather than just a one-liner here and there, I think he would be the one to beat for the featured actor Tony.

Gary Beach can do no wrong in my book - I have enjoyed him every time I've ever seen him and this was no exception. However, without any real connection to his Georges, the show has no soul. Beach tries his damnedest, but he is stuck with the energy-sucking Robert Goulet, assumedly there to boost ticket sales, but a fatal casting error.

Robert Goulet. Truman Capote once said, upon receiving a pointsettia plant, "Pointsettias are the Robert Goulet of botany." I give him credit for trying, I guess, and good for him for kissing a man on stage. But he did not seem at all prepared to perform the role, missing steps, blowing lines and lyrics, and just generally looking lost, limping and awkward. For my money, I would MUCH Rather have seen his understudy, the capable John Hillner. Or Daniel Davis for that matter.

I blame director Jerry Zaks for most of what I thought was missing. I've seen community theatre productions get more laughs than were available here. And the laughs that were there, aside from the great Mr. Beach and the funny Mr. Washington, seemed forced and shouted. And while I defy anyone to find more exciting choreography on Broadway right now than Jerry Mitchell's superb Can Can, I felt Mitchell missed the mark with the opening, and IMO has yet to prove that he can choreograph a group tap number.

But I come not to trash. The show is still fun: the book is excellent, the score a charmer, the supporting players well-cast if not well directed (although Zaks' daughter, Emma, shines in a small ensemble role). All in all, I had a wonderful time, thanks to those fabulous Cagelles.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:21pm

I have never seen a show directed by Jerry Zaks that I liked. I thought he was great playing the tailor in the 1970s Mostel revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and think he has directed some excellent episodes of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. I guess I do not enjoy his work as a stage director.

[BoxFive]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:32pm

Well said and written joeyb, I found my trip to "La Cage" with Goulet to be quite dreadful. Several times he lost both his lines and his footing, as I said quite dreadful.

Zaks is a terror as far as empty gags go-and La Cage is top heavy with them, it's made worse by his complete lack of understanding of the love between the leading characters.

Gavin Creel's line readings are embrassing, his voice as usual was in fine form, but empty of passion.

Beach is all wrong, all the time, I'm tired of embracing his hollow queening, enough! He is the "smallest" man I've ever seen on a stage, he is transparent.

The splendid Cagelle's rescue the evening, and Will Taylor is quite simply the most beautiful "woman" on Broadway at the moment.

I had such hopes for this revival, sadly it's been a dreadful letdown, and SHAME on the creative powers in releasing the sublime Daniel Davis, he was the heart and soul of the production, just another nail in the coffin of valid Broadway.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:43pm

I really enjoyed Jerry Zak's Guys and Dolls from, what, 1992? I thought he grasped the humor of the story well, and presented a fabulous staging of the musical.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:50pm

justme2, I think Mr. Zaks was very lucky with GUYS AND DOLLS. Faith Prince and Nathan Lane were amazing and the sets and costumes were stunning. Other than that, I found it very good, but the Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat sequence was embarassingly awful. Walter Bobbie's whole performance was pretty dismal actually. But it was fun with Prince and Lane on Broadway. I suspect Mr. Zaks didn't have much to do with what made this revival a hit. I saw the show again on national tour right after Lorna Luft left the part of Adelaide. It was simply dreadfully dull and tedious to sit through. It was Nathan Lane and Faith Prince that made that Broadway revival soar. The national tour was awful without them.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:08pm

How odd..I love Walter Bobbie's Nicley Nicley Johnson and so did a lot of people! Everytime I hear someone talk about Guys and Dolls, they comment about how good a job Bobbie did with the role and how his rendition of "Sit down" always stopped the show (in a good way!).

Now, I didn't see the National Tour, so I can't comment on that, it very well may have been a disaster. But you also say you suspect Zaks didn't have much to do with making the revival a success. Who did then? Directors guide the performances of those in the revival, so he had to have a hand in Nathan and Faith's performances being so well done.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:26pm

Justme2,
Isn't it odd ? I could have sword WishIhadatony had said we were on ignore. Hmm.

[justme2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:44pm

Well, all I know is that as soon as I challenged WISH's opinion of Guys and Dolls, WISH disappeared from this thread. WISH is on other threads, though....hmmm.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:46pm

JoeyBiltmore: Your review of Goulet is exactly what I expected. This is a travesty and I hope they make amends soon by casting someone who can actually remember a line. The man should have retired awhile ago and left us with memories of Camelot

As for BoxFive's comment on Gary Beach...boy do I disagree with that. You may not like his Albin but the description you give of his acting skills borders on character assassination. Have you seen him do anything else or do you just dislike the guy?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:22pm

I understood that the critics were invited this past weekend to review La Cage. Since I am quite new at following all things theater, I have a few questions. Why do they re-review a show? Is it because, in this case, Goulet is now the star, and the producers-that-be are hoping for a Tony nom for best actor in a musical? Or is it because they're hoping that with a better review it will lead to increased box ofice sales? And could it backfire if the critics are/were less than impressed with his performance? One final question: do the critics post their reviews as well? Thanks in advance for any info.

[bonna]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 1:11am

Goulet can't get a Tony nomination; you have to be in the opening-night cast to be eligible. But producers often re-invite critics to review shows a second time when a star takes over a leading role, hoping that good reviews will generate ticket sales.

Initially the critics weren't going to be invited to La Cage until mid-May, but the show has been grossing below $400K the last couple of weeks, so they don't have much to lose at this point if the reviews aren't favorable.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 2:24am

"Beach is all wrong, all the time, I'm tired of embracing his hollow queening, enough! He is the "smallest" man I've ever seen on a stage, he is transparent."

Perfectly put. He's wretched.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:31am

he can't be any worse than your girl, Miss Applegate.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 3:37am

Oh Chita, how original! You bashing my liking of Christina! Well since you seem to have seen neither production, you certainly aren't in any place to comment. For some reason you are on the warpath for me, ever since I applauded her performance in CHARITY - and it's really sad that you appear to be so concerned with who I like. You are pathetic.

[mntwister]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 10:11am

Goulet was AWFUL in the recent tour of South Pacific and showed no emotion and made for a very boring evening, so I was stunned to see him used for something on Broadway. Hopefully, when La Cage tours, he won't be interested and I will get to see someone else.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:01pm

So, what do you think? When the show get re-reviewed, do you think they will be positive or negative?

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:10pm

ohhhhhhhh vey, I am finally see it on 5/22. I bought these tixs ages ago. I was very disappointed to hear Daniel Davis left the show and I simply cannot picture Goulet in the role. oh well.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:24pm

Zaks' production of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES with Swoozie Kurtz, Christine Ebersole and John Mahoney was one of my all-time favorite evenings in the theatre. I also found his direction of Guare's SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION sublime. He won Tonys for both, so obviously he was quite a skilled director at one point in his career.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:25pm

Zaks is a wonderful director. I would love to see him stay away from revivals for a while. But thats just me..

[justme2]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 5:05pm

I didn't realize he directed Six degrees of Seperation! I have even more respect for Zaks now.