Bucks County Playhouse brings back this musical, based on Jean Poiret’s farce.
By: Stuart Duncan
When composer Jerry Herman, playwright Harvey Fierstein and director Arthur Laurents united to collaborate on a Broadway musical, adapted from Jean Poiret’s most successful farce La Cage aux Folles, they knew the project was risky.
The year was 1983, early in the AIDS epidemic, but the collaborators were gay men and felt that, if done well, such a show would be a tonic for those suffering from the disease as well as those who were homophobic due to the threat. Director Laurents insisted that it be "an old-fashioned production" elaborate costuming (by the veteran designer Theoni Aldredge), exquisite sets, a lush, romantic score and glamorous chorus girls (even if most of them were male).
The results included wildly enthusiastic reviews, a long run (1,761 performances), lots of Tony Awards, several movie adaptations and numerous touring and regional companies. One of the sites that the show has consistently drawn big crowds to is Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa., and the show is back for another run. You remember the plot: the middle-aged lovers Albin and Georges are faced with the engagement of Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, to Anne, the daughter of the local morals crusader. How to deal with this complication is material for delicious comedy, especially since Jean-Michel’s natural mother fails to show up, leaving Albin to play the role. Bucks Director/choreographer Stephen Casey has cast Michael Moeller as Albin and Playhouse favorite Jim Lynch as Georges, and then has put current favorites Peter Martino and Jill Palena in the roles of Jean-Michel and Anne.
The combinations are not completely successful chemically, but the script is so cleverly constructed and written that the secondary characters take over particularly Bob Marcus and Lauren Brader as the morals crusader and his wife. They are quickly inveigled into an alternative lifestyle and the laughs pile up. You will also have a great time marveling at "Les Cagelles" eight chorus "girls," only two of whom are female, and wondering just how all of them learned how to handle splits as well as the can-can.
And the first act finale, "I Am What I Am," remains an ode to gay pride.
La Cage aux Folles continues at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa., through Oct. 15. Performances: Wed.-Thurs. 2, 8 p.m.; Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 4, 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22-$24. For information, call (215) 862-2041. On the Web: www.buckscountyplayhouse.com

