Music Theater Works Presents LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Review

Music Theater Works’ Night Out at the Club

It’s summertime in France here at the North Shore Center… The atrium of the Center has cocktail tables adorned with tabletop chandeliers and hot pink feathers. As doors open to the foyer of the theater, darkness and mystery settle in… The lights dim to an almost blue-purple hue. A little smoke hangs in the room adding to the mystique. Then, Queens dance and pose for pictures with guests in hot pink cages.

"Absolutely Fabulous!" "How Marvelous!" we are thinking…

Then the club itself is revealed. Banisters draped in pink feather boas at the front of the club tables add a VIP feel. Disco balls and crystal chandeliers hang from the lighting rack in the ceiling. More queens are serving the signature Za Za-Tini at the onstage bar complete with colorful, flashing ice cubes.

The circular outline of the stage and playing space gives homage to the shape of a birdcage. And in dramatic, large letters at the back of the stage LA CAGE stands tall and acts as the grand entrance point for the club’s stage.

A Costumer’s Dream

The entrance is only the start of over-the-top-ness in this production. Capturing the camp and style of any drag show, the costumes designed by Justin LeBlanc add another grand piece to this production. Club host Georges (played by Jason Richards) takes the stage, resplendent in a three piece light purple suit, and welcomes us to the show before we fade to black for the first number.

From the backstage, we see dark outlines come on stage and find their marks. We expect bright lights to illuminate the stage in a big opening number reveal, but instead UV lights turn on to reveal glow-in-the-dark flapper-esque fringe dresses, eyelashes, and headpieces on the chorus of Les Cagelles. Each of the costumes following seem to grow more over-the-top with each number. Can-can girl dresses with purple and black ruffles, mini-dresses with giant sparkling sequins, and full length Greek goddess gowns with full topiary headpieces make each chorus number eye-catching.

The Diva Spotlight

The drama of La Cage Aux Folles is incited by Georges’ son Jean-Michel (played by Christopher Ratliff), bringing his fiancée’s conservative parents to stay, the heart of the show is the relationship between Georges and Albin (Ginger Minj).

Georges is the slightly more level headed of the two hosting the show and trying to keep it on schedule begging Albin to get dressed so Za Za can take the stage. Albin starts bemoaning to Georges how he feels he’s cast off and no longer Georges’ muse. It’s clear these two have been through this before as it turns into good natured ribbing. Later we see their affection and love when Richards sings With You On My Arm and looks lovingly off into the distance where Minj has just exited.

In this writer’s view, Minj steals the spotlight at nearly every turn.When Ginger is given her full show moment in the middle of Act One, we get a taste of a modern drag show. She is in her element as she interacts with the crowd, ribs a gentleman in the front about his outfit, and gives a full blown performance number. When she walks out as plain old Uncle Al in a drab ill-fitting suit, she couldn’t look more miserable without her full glam and sparkle.

But it’s those final moments at the end of each act where we feel her full star power. She digs deep to deliver the power anthem, I Am What I Am proclaiming her acceptance and confidence in herself and her life. Then in the grand finale, she makes her final appearance in a sky-high red wig with diamond accents and a huge, poofy white dress to belt the final notes.

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Photos courtesy of Music Theatre Works.

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Photos courtesy of Music Theatre Works.

About the Author: Alexis Bugajski

Alexis is a theater reviewer, travel bug, media specialist, and burger & beer enthusiast. During the day she works in the advertising business as a senior communications designer. When night falls, or when she can escape to New York, she’s hitting the theaters to see as many shows as she can. And whenever she’s not at her desk or in the audience, she’s out seeking the best burger and beer offerings in Chicago.

Editor's Note: Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski

Music Theater Works Presents LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Review – A Fabulous Night of Drag

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