REVIEW | La Cage aux Folles, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewer - Clare
*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review
Returning back to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre each summer is a pleasure, with a variety of shows on offer. This year’s summer season concludes with a revival of the cult classic La Cage aux Folles and what a revival it is, jam-packed with joy, passion and excellence it is truly a wonder to behold.
With a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, this production has been magnificently directed by Tim Sheader to create something as poignant and relevant now as it was when it was first produced forty years ago. Mix that with the colourful costumes and dazzling make-up designed by Ryan Dawson Laight and Guy Common respectively delivers all the glitz, glam and glitter that you would expect from a show of this calibre.
Choreographed by the incredible Stephen Mear, the dancing and performance in the show is simply stunning, from the first number until the finale, from large group numbers to small duet it is so brilliant it has the ability to bring a tear to the eye.
Bringing the creative vision to life is the amazing cast, where each individual shines as brightly as the sparkles on their costumes. Led by Billy Carter and Carl Mullaney as Georges and Albin, club owner and star of the show. Their chemistry as the glue that holds La Cage together is off the charts and both are phenomenal in holding the “room” in their palm throughout the entire show, especially for the end of act one where Mullaney leaves everything on the stage with an ovation getting rendition of “I Am What I Am”.
The Cagelles played by Jak Allen-Anderson, Tom Bales, Taylor Bradshaw, Jordan Lee Davies, Lewis Easter, Harvey Ebbage, George Lynham, JP McCue, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, and Hemi Yeroham bring a tear to the eye and a warmth to the soul with the talent that they possess.
Special mention to Craig Armstrong, who in the performance I saw played his normal track as a Cagelle in the first act before switching to his understudy role as Edward Dindon for act two as well as Shakeel Kimotho who plays Jacob, Albin’s butler/maid who commanded the stage with every moment they were on it.
Once again the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has smashed it out of the park (no pun intended) with this amazing production, which will have all theatre fans scrambling for a ticket and all the awards ready to be given.
The show is playing until 16th September, so head over because the best of times is truly now.
