I saw La Cage last night. It's a nice production but not outstanding. Perhaps my memories are tempered by time but I remember the first productino being more exciting, more fully realized. I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say except that it's missing a spark. There are wonderful moments and I am a big fan of Daniel Davis, who plays Georges. I've seen him in many things over the past few years and he's always so good and different and effortless in bringing you the core of the character. Perhaps it's because things have changed so much over 21/22 years (La Cage opened in late 1983). What was then out of the ordinary (for many people) is now, in spite of some people's efforts to deny or change the fact, commonplace. Also, in seeing it 20 years later, I notice, IMHO (in my humble opinion), how weak the book is. The son, even though he comes around at the end, is a silly little twit and Dindon (the turkey) is a caricature. The show is really a playlet about Georges and Albin with other stuff put in around them to flesh out the show. As I said, it's a perfectly respectable production. Gary Beach is very funny and at times touching as ZaZa/Albin. Gavin Creel, who I generally like, looks ridiculous in that hairpiece with a ponytail. I don't know why they went with that particular design element. He (Creel) also is one of the weaker performers in the show. I think much of that is because the character is so silly. The choreography by Jerry Mitchell is very athletic, almost gymnastic at points and all the Cagelles are played by men this time. In the original for those who don't know, there were a few women, I forget how many, and when they removed the wigs you were able to tell who was who. A couple of the dance sequences go on too long, IMHO. The show was at 7pm (Tuesdays at 7 on Broadway) and I didn't get out of the theatre until almost 9:45. It's easy to get tickets for the show. Even though it's doing very well (at least according to grosses) it's on TKTS all the time and also on TDF E-Tix (very cheap) so if you're in NY and want to see the show you'll have no problem. Not a strong recommendation but if you want to see it, you'll probably enjoy it. If you don't see it, you're not missing anything. They are selling the Original Cast Rercording from 1983 at the theatre! I wonder if a new recording will be made?
Oh, well, now I'm rambling. I have to get back to work. Maybe later for questions.
