BWW Reviews: Drag in the Humor With LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at The Barn Players

The hilarious production of the French musical La Cage Aux Folles currently plays at the Barn Players in Mission, Kan. The musical based on the play by the same name by Jean Poiret opened on Friday night November 7 and runs through November 23. Kipp Simmons directs the Barn Players production with musical direction by Martha Risser and choreography by Rob Reeder.

The recipient of nine Tony Award nominations the 1983 Broadway production won six including Best Score, Best Musical, and Best Book. The revival in 2004 won the Tony Award for Best Revival and again won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for the 2010 Broadway revival. The productions have won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and the Laurence Oliver Award for Best Musical Revival.

La Cage Aux Folles, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Harvey Fierstein, is the story of Georges and Albin, a gay couple who operate a Saint-Tropez nightclub, which features entertainment from men in drag. The literal meaning for La cage aux Folles is "the cage of mad women." Albin is the star attraction, performing under the name Zaza. Georges has a son Jean-Michael who has fallen in love with a woman and has asked her to marry him. Unfortunately, for Georges and Albin the girl's father Edouard Dindon is the head of the "Tradition, Family, and Morality Party." The hilarity continues as Georges, Albin, and Jacob their maid prepare to meet the anti-homosexual Dindon and his wife.

Dudley Hogue gives a stellar performance as Albin and Zaza, with perfect mannerisms and wonderful vocals. His facial expressions and body language adds substance to his delightful performance. This is Hogues first performance after a 12-year hiatus. He has previously performed at the Quality Hill Playhouse and several community theaters.

Eric Magnus, the Artistic Director for The Barn Players, stars as Georges. He gives a superb performance as the father who on the behalf of his son reluctantly tries to hide his relationship with Albin. Magnus has performed with The Barn Players, Chestnut Theatre, and the Leawood Stage Company.

The performance of Graham Fairleigh as Jacob the butler/maid and John Edmonds as Francis the stage manager for La Cage Aux Folles are hilarious. Jacob is ambitious wanting to dance in the drag show and Francis, with his taped together glasses looks like a nerd, is in a relationship with one of the Les Cagelles dancers.

Greg Butell plays Edouared Dindon, the straight-laced politician who is anti-anything fun. Edouared appears as a very uptight man who wants to stop all drag shows and most every other type of entertainment, but this is La Cage Aux Folles and anything can happen.

The marvelous cast of La Cage Aux Folles includes Adam McAdoo as Jean-Michael, Katie Bartow as Anne, Joy Richardson as Marie Dindon, Erica Baruth as Jacqueline, Paul Morel as Renaud, Valerie Dykes as Madame Renaud, Samantha Agron as Collette, Caelin Golladay as Etienne, and Ray Zarr as Tabarro. The Les Cagelles, the dancers who perform in the background for Zaza, include Blane Brungardt, Max Mammele, Bradley Turner, Derick White, Rob Reeder, Mitch Simmons, Korey Childs, Brad Clay, and Josh Krueger. The band accompanying the cast is conducted by Martha Risser, with Kaytee Dietrich and Eric Blume on Reeds, Mike Wiesner on trumpet, Lee Finch on Trombone, Gordon Case on Drums, Frank Annecchini on bass, and Michalis Koutsoupides and Todd Kendall Gregory on keyboards.

La Cage Aux Folles continues through November 23 with Friday and Saturday night performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. Monday November 17 is dedicated as Industry Night and all tickets are $12 each that date and may be purchased at the box office beginning one hour before the 7:30 p.m. performance. Purchase tickets by visiting The Barn Players website. Photo courtesy of The Barn Players.

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