» june 1.2ûût
38
THEATER
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Birds of a
feather
Poison Waters
steals the
spotlight in
La Cage
A ux Folles
by
503 230.7980
M an gels
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P D X 2512 “ N E ” Broadway
j i tahLrr^TM (503) 287-4214
2913 SW Stark
musite*
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I 20 N W Third Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 • (503) 224-3285
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a d v e r t i s e , cal l (503) 236- 1253.
NIGHTSPOTS
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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 ■
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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
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WESTSIDE PORTLAND
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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.