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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2001)
» june 1.2ûût 38 THEATER ............... ¥ ................ Restaurant & Lounge íL^iaüQOíi S g x â o â a E s Visit us at www.starkys.com Birds of a feather Poison Waters steals the spotlight in La Cage A ux Folles by 503 230.7980 M an gels * P D X 2512 “ N E ” Broadway j i tahLrr^TM (503) 287-4214 2913 SW Stark musite* ~ C asual Dining ~ Lounge ~ G am e Room ~ Live Music O pen 4 : 0 0 Daily ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I 20 N W Third Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 • (503) 224-3285 Parking Validated Smart Park Davis & Front www. hobos.citysearch com a d v e r t i s e , cal l (503) 236- 1253. NIGHTSPOTS I 4 1 ! J i u » ___ 1 s U » .... t ............... ? ........ 1 A I — f t tt « O n v w . lt 1 1 fiuQ m ff( m ~ ~ o E ••msMt St K H M V n lM L ? ! ME GUsMSt ....... ............ K M M i Sglpe^ ............................ <D /Ç V U J u n e 1 6 th , 2 0 0 1 ~ ( T V 1 «-»■«»» i * - j 1 ! « r ith proba bly one of the best- known gay plots in modem enter tainment, La Cage Aux Folles is more familiar to mod em (read: younger) audiences as The Birdcage. The 1996 film cast Robin Williams as the slightly more butch “husband,” while a not-yet-out Nathan Lai was the effeminate drag queen “wife.” Older audiences will recall the 1978 film La Cage Aux Folles (and its two less-successful sequels), an adaptation of a French play by Jean Poiret. But it is the 1983 musical version, written by Harvey Fierstein with music by the incomparable Jerry Herman, that lit up Broad way for years. And now the musical has come to Portland for a dazzling staging by the Musi cal Theatre Company. La Cage Aux Folles is actually the name of a popular drag nightclub whose showgirls are a bitchy but talented lot. Its owner/announcer is George (Rick Lewis), and its star is Zaza, actual ly his flamboyant husband, Albert (Richard Hurst), who is aided by butler/maid Jacob/ Claudia (Kevin Cook, aka Poison Waters). When George’s son, Michael (Tom Stew art), comes to visit, he tells his father he’s get ting married— but his fiancée is the daughter of ultraconservative Sen. Dindon (Michael Jones). EA S TS ID E P O R TLA N D ■ <1 * is t/tic t H : W F te w t* 7 s A ndy V J i § a St ¡^CANDALSI ~ i - ~ 1 » " '1 '' - 1038 S W S tarkfKt. P o rtla n d . O R .9 7 2 0 5 (5O3)22Z‘*5807 tr -t w w w .scandals.citysearch.com " “Î ■ Boxxat/Brlg— 1035 SW Stark St.................................................1 CC Slaughters— 219 NW Davis St..............................................5 Club Portland— 303 SW 12th Ave............................................ 11 Darcene XV— 208 NW Third Ave............................................... 5 Dirty Duck Tavern— 439 NW Third Ave....................................8 Eagle PDX— 1300 W Burnside St............................................... 7 Klub Z— 333 SW Park Ave.........................................................10 Egyptian Club— 3701 SE Division St........................................8 Embers Avenue— 110 NW Broadway ...................................... 9 Fox and Hounds— 217 NW Second Ave ................................14 Frontllns— 1125 SW Washington St.......................................... 3 Hobo's— 120 NW Third A v e ....................................................... 5 JOQ's— 2512 NE Broadway .....................................................12 Neighbors— 1417 Villard St.............................................. Eugene North Bank Tavern— 106 W Sixth St.......................... Vancouver Panorama— 341 SW 10th Ave.................................................... 1 Scandals Lounge— 1038 SW Stark St.......................................1 Shanghai Steakory— 16 NW Broadway ................................9 Silverado— 1217 SW Stark St................................................... 11 Starky's— 2913 SE Stark St......................................................... 4 300 Club— 300 Liberty St. S E ........................................... Salem 3 Friends Coffeehouse— 201 SE 12th A v e ........................... 2 Three Sitters Tavern— 1125 SW Stark St...............................11 Touchstone Coffee House— 7631 NE Glisan St...................... 15 Guide courtesy of 1—i m* imi a ! § * f i l ? I l ! » O ' I 1 t A 0 « 1 i iijf t i -f— 1 * <D 0 W T W w — ’ / * * “&* © ■ / h / W-mf í • / NL WESTSIDE PORTLAND / * Albert and George— before the makeover George is happy about Michael’s news but is disappointed when his son asks him to get rid of Albert for a dinner with the in-laws-to-be so they think he comes from a “normal” family. Albert is crushed— he raised Michael like his own son— but agrees to the request. How ever, when Michael’s natural mother fails to show, Albert takes matters into his own hands— and makeup kit. In a show that relies on its leads to dazzle the hearts and minds, this La Cage comes up almost a winner. Lewis is stellar, looking and sounding like a smooth Robert Preston (Music Man, Victor/Victoria) and seeming bom for the stage. Hurst starts out stumbling— his opening scenes show almost zero charisma, and Zaza’s hair isn’t nearly good enough for a drag star— but by midway through A ct 1, he captures our hearts. His version of “I Am W hat I Am” is heartrending, and his impersonation of John Wayne is giddy fun. Poison’s Jacob is a hoot and by far the campiest thing on stage. Although his cos tumes and dialogue generally lend funny power, Cook makes even some of the less humorous lines a stitch. Next to the other funnier and meatier roles, Stewart’s Michael is just OK; the young actor has a Bing Crosby appeal but little of his charisma. Beyond the acting and songs, audiences will be most dazzled by the costumes and choreogra phy. It appears no expense was spared (nor ostrich unplucked) for the several dozen impres sive looks that arrive on stage on the eight dancer/singers, and some of the quick changes are impressively fast. Kudos to Carlos M. Queza da as the Latina Salsa Caliente, who manages to steal the limelight every time he’s on stage. This endorsement doesn’t mean La C age is without some flaws. Dindon and his wife (Emily Sahler) have unbelievable Southern accents, and daughter Anne (Sarah Lamb) has virtually nothing to do. (All three roles are very underwritten.) The song “Cocktail Counterpoint,” sung by most of the major players at the dinner party, is nearly incomprehensible. Worst of all is the final number, in which the orchestra complete ly drowns out the cast. And why exactly are two (possibly three) of the drag queens played by real women? Still, despite these minor stumbling blocks, La Cage Aux Folles is an entertaining and rewarding night at the theater. Although the story is famil iar, it doesn’t seem dated at all, and its sentiments about family— and indelible message that gay relationships are based on love— are a wonderful way to lead into Gay Pride month. J D L a C age A u x F olles plays through Ju n e 3 at the Eastside Perform ance C en ter, 531 S .E . 14th A ve. For tickets call the box office at 503-9/ 6-6592 or Fastixx. ANDY M angels does tough drag each year at Valentines from Hell but otherwise leaves the dresses to those unth shapelier legs and less facial hair. You can write him at AM angelsSW @aol.com.
