Review: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Photo credit: Mark Senior
Opening on Broadway in 1983, La Cage Aux Folles broke barriers for gay representation by becoming the first hit Broadway musical centered on a homosexual relationship. The original production ran for more than four years (1,761 performances), and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. The show might be 40 years old but it’s still as relevant and the message is loud and clear – be who you want to be!
For those who may be unfamiliar with La Cage Aux Folles, it tells the story of Georges (Billy Carter), the owner of a glamorous drag nightclub called La Cage Aux Folles, and his husband Albin (Carl Mullaney), the star performer of the club who goes by the stage name Zaza. Together, they face the hardest challenge of their relationship, yet: meeting their son, Jean-Michel’s fiance’s parents. Albin has always raised Jean-Michel, Georges’ biological son, as his own. But when Jean-Michel falls in love and becomes engaged to the daughter of an ultra-conservative, anti-gay politician, Georges feels compelled to try to present a more “traditional” family to Jean-Michel’s potential in-laws. When Albin tries and fails to take on a masculine persona in the role of Uncle Al, he gets more creative in order to find a way to be part of the “meet the parents” experience.
Directed by Tim Sheader, it is a show that hits all the right notes and celebrates life, love, and being yourself, and that’s something we all need to make more time for.
Even if you don’t know all the songs from La Cage Aux Folles, you’re sure to be aware of the incredible anthem that is ‘I Am What I Am’ (which you may also recognise from the current Virgin Atlantic advert!). Alongside ‘A (Little More) Mascara’, ‘With Anne on my Arm’ and ‘The Best of Times’, this show has a knock-out score.
Leading the cast are Carl Mullaney as Albin and Billy Carter as Georges. Together, they are a wonderful partnership and navigate the audience through the show. Carl Mullaney’s interpretation of Albin is astonishing and his rendition of ‘I Am What I Am’ is the moment of the show. He has the audience in the palm of his hand! Alongside Ben Culleton (as Jean-Michel), Julie Jupp (as Marie Dindon), Shakeel Kimotho (as Jacob), Debbie Kurup (as Jacqueline), Craig Armstrong (as Edward Dindon) and Sophie Pourret (as Anne) and of course supported by the most amazing collection of Cagelles and Ensemble, this show is the hottest ticket in town.
La Cage Aux Folles is fun, refreshing, uplifting, gloriously camp and a celebration of life – in all its forms! It’s exactly what London needs for 2023…
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Ryan Bishop
La Cage Aux Folles plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 16 September, with tickets available here.