La Cage aux Folles (The Bird Cage), with book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, was directed for the Winnipesaukee Playhouse ("The Winni") in Meredith, New Hampshire, by Clayton Phillips. Judy Hayward was music director and Danny Durr the choreographer. John Beltre handled costume design and Melissa Shakun designed the set.
This musical, which opened on Broadway in 1983, was another significant achievement by the Winni, whose production teams have demonstrated a high degree of skill in staging high-quality shows over and over again, supported by strong talent in actors, singers, musicians and dancers.
This is a tough one to review. Francis (Robert Hooghkirk), the frenzied, hyper-active stage manager, gets the show rolling. Georges (James A. Skiba), manager of a night club specializing in drag entertainment, and Albin (Larry Buzzeo), Georges' flamboyant star attraction and romantic partner, find their stock-in-trade being challenged by an ultra-conservative politician, M. Renaud (Pat Cogan), head of the "Tradition, Family and Morality Party." He's also the father of Anne (Drea Campo), fiancée of Jean-Michel (Nick Rossi), only child of Georges, all unknown to Renaud. Got all that? Things get complicated when Anne's parents want to meet her future in-laws.
I have to mention Larry Buzzeo's other role as Zaza, Georges' star female impersonator, in her (his) night club act. In wig, gown, eye liner and lipstick, he interacts with the audience, flirting and teasing those in the first row (glad I was in the second).
This play is primarily a musical with an unconventional love story that leads to both hilarious and poignant consequences. The songs are still running through my mind. Congratulations, Winni, on a stellar production.
No comments:
Post a Comment