La Cage aux Folles

Jerry Herman has written some brilliant musicals – “Hello Dolly” being probably his most well known. However, La Cage aux Folles must run it a very close second having seen this brilliant production at the Grand Theatre in Leeds this week.

Without doubt, the star of the show is John Partridge as Albin. He is superb in this part and so humorous as well. The other two main principals are Marti Webb who in the past has starred in Evita, Godspell, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Blood Brothers, Oliver, Oklahoma, 42nd Street, and Half-a-Sixpence. She plays the part of Jacqueline, the restaurant owner. In addition to Marti, Adrian Zmed plays the part of Georges the other major star of this particular show.

John Partridge will be well known to audiences for playing the loveable Christian Clarke in BBC’s EastEnders and as a judge on TV’s Over The Rainbow. He has also starred in the West End productions of A Chorus Line at the London Palladium, Cats, Starlight Express and he was recently seen at Leeds Grand in the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. John’s singing and acting are both outstanding and he steals the show completely. His performance of “I Am What I Am” was breathtaking as was his duet of “The Best of Times” with Marti.

Adrian Zmed co-starred with William Shatner as Officer Vince Romano in the 80’s hit TV show T.J. Hooker which ran for 90 episodes over five years and he played Johnny Nogerelli in the cult classic film Grease 2. Again, Adrian has a great voice which was perfect for his solos of “Song on the Sand” and “Look over There”

Of the minor principals I must also give a plaudit to Samson Ajewole in the role of Jacob, Georges and Albin’s butler – or rather should that be their maid? His campness made even Louie Spence look masculine!

Georges is the owner of La Cage aux Folles, a nightclub in St Tropez. George and Albin are homosexual lovers as well as popular female impersonators staring in the drag queen show, Les Callages. Problems arise when Georges’ twenty four year old son, Jean-Michel, a result of Georges’ brief encounter with a female showgirl twenty five years ago, announces that he is about to become engaged to Anne Dindon, the daughter of a well-known homophobic politician, Edouard Dindon. Anne’s parents want to come and meet Jean-Michel’s mother and father. Little do they know that Albin, a man, has essentially been Jean-Michel’s mother-figure his whole life.

Jean-Michel wants to keep Albin away from the Dindon’s, but Albin is hurt and insists on making an appearance. In the end, due to a little blackmail from Jacqueline, the Dindon’s are forced to accept Jean-Michel into their family.

The show is extremely funny in parts, but also very moving in others. The choreography throughout the show is superb. The dancers in Les Callages are brilliant, and it is extremely difficult to ascertain which of these are females and which are males in drag. High kicks, can-cans and other floorshow routines abound and the costumes are absolutely exquisite.

Likewise, the music is splendid, as one would come to expect from a Jerry Harman show. Probably the two most well known songs in the show are “I am what I am” and “The Best of Times”. A couple of others that are excellently performed and which will haunt you for days afterwards with their superb melodies are “Song on the Sand” and “Look over there”.

This lavishly funny tale of unconditional love and family values reminds the audience to celebrate that life’s not worth a damn ‘till you can say I am what I am.’

An excellent orchestra under the direction Mark Crossland, brilliant scenery, added to the superb choreography and great singing makes this a show that will linger in the memory for a long time.

Tickets are still available for Thursday matinee, Thursday night and Saturday matinee.