“La Cage aux Folles” brings literal meaning to “gay old time.” Alhambra Dinner Theatre owner and producer Tod Booth brings the venerable play to his Beach Boulevard stage as his latest offering to Jacksonville theatergoers. The show runs through May 25.
HAS LOVE WANED?
The show opens in exotic St. Tropez in the French Riviera where drag queen ZaZa, a.k.a Albin, is feeling blue. A pudgy middle-aged man underneath caked-on makeup, glittery gown and stuffed bra, Albin sobs woefully as he grieves that his “husband” of 20 years, night club owner Georges, no longer finds him attractive. While the crowd anxiously awaits ZaZa outside the dressing room, Georges must deftly convince Albin his love has neither withered nor waned with time.
THE ENGAGEMENT
The drama heats up when Georges’ 20-year-old son, Jean-Michel — a product of a one-night-fling with a stage performer — appears announcing his engagement . . . to a girl! Tension is bearable until Albin, Jean-Michel’s “mother,” hears about it. Complete with shrieks, hollers and uncontrollable whimpering, Albin deftly earns the title “drama queen.”
THE PLOT TURNS
The plot escalates when the parents of Jean-Michel’s fiancée, Anne, demand to meet the family before approving the marriage. No problem for Georges and Albin except that Anne’s father is a member of the Tradition, Family and Morality Party, the staunchest anti-gay faction in the land. A wild time ensues when Georges, Albin and the butler, who insists he be called the maid (he has scuffed knees to prove it), try to “straighten” their act up for the one-night visit.
THE PLAYERS
Alhambra fixture Tony Triano steals the show as middle-aged Albin, partly because the nature of the character and partly because of his stage presence. Walter Hook is warm and convincing as subdued Georges, who is willing to hide his true identity for the sake of his son’s love, even at the expense of his long-time lover. The rest of the cast is Alhambra par — talented, dynamic actors and actresses who work their butts off for the tiny audience night after night.
SOME DISTRACTIONS
Typical Alhambra detractors include cramped seating and mediocre accompanying sound. Acoustics are good, however, and the performers can be heard clearly from all corners of the theater.
A LITTLE HISTORY
Since its debut in 1983 at the Palace Theatre in New York City, “La Cage aux Folles” has delighted audiences with its buoyant plot and vibrant characters in theaters and showhouses around the world. It won Tony awards in 1984 and inspired the motion picture “The Bird Cage” starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
COST
Tickets range from $35-$46.
THE VERDICT
Three gavels out of five.
— by Glenn Tschimpke