La Cage Aux Folles - Regent's Park 2023

And the character once had a song (cut early on) that could never be performed nowadays called "Have A Nice Day" which more or less spelled out how happy his world would be were it not for an exhaustive list of those he finds undesirable. 

Dorothy Loudon performed it in JERRY'S GIRLS on Broadway but it was never recorded, and is definitely not for those whose boundaries around what constitutes as comedy are quite strict.

I can see why it would be a challenge to make this work in the show...

I am so happy to see this is getting good reviews (4 and 5 stars from the ones I’ve read). I had a wonderful time and smiled throughout when I saw it. It started raining during in Act 2 but this didn’t dampen the audience’s spirits.

I saw the Menier production at the Playhouse multiple times, which I adored, and was nervous that I wouldn’t enjoy this version, due to comparison. But I enjoyed the Regents Park production immensely. I felt that Carl’s Zaza had far more vulnerability than others I’ve seen previously, and agree with the comments that as a queer performer he seemed to really bring nuance to the character. I laughed with him and felt his ‘I Am What I Am’ deeply. I also really appreciated the range of representation in the Cagelles and thought the cast overall was fabulous. It seemed like a real team effort, the cast was cohesive and clearly having a good time.

This show is still so apt with everything going on in the States, and I felt more moved watching it than I ever have, as a queer person who can find the current climate quite frightening.

Would love to see a transfer of this into town.

Nice to read generally positive comments here and in the press. And I nteresting to read the (relative) voice of dissent in Nick Curtis’ 3* Evening Standard review.

To be fair I didn’t think Ben Culleton’s Jean-Michel was subtly acted (although he dances up a storm!) but I think it’s a bit mean to lay into such a young actor in one of his first stage roles quite so harshly. I hope for Ben’s sake he doesn’t read it.

I also quite strongly disagree with Curtis’ criticism that the central couple aren’t affectionate - their genuine affection and tenderness was probably the thing that made this production stand slightly above the excellent Menier one for me in terms of a proper emotional arc and truly heartwarming payoff.

But anyway, we’re all entitled to our opinions. This has really stayed with me since I saw it last week and I hope the positive reviews help it have a healthy summer (and who knows, possibly a life beyond…?)

I'm looking out the window as I type this and despite the humidity,given the wing and rain here in Nth London, I wouldn't be surprised if today or tonight performance is cancelled.

Correct - only credit.

The credit never expires so could be used years later.

I haven’t posted on here in a long time, but I saw this at yesterdays matinee and was quite disappointed, so I thought I’d pop back to TheatreBoard to share some thoughts.

Firstly, given Sheader’s work over recent years, I was surprised at how traditional this production was. I can’t help but feel that he does better work when he’s bringing something more distinctive to a show.

Secondly, the cast were… just fine? No bad performances, in fact I rather liked the actor playing Georges, but I was left feeling that it was all rather run-of-the-mill. Albin had no depth and I personally felt that his comic chops were not strong (but the rest of the audience was laughing at him so what do I know?), Jean-Michel was clearly an excellent dancer and singer but his acting was less believable, and Edward Dindon was neither detestable enough nor funny enough.

On the other hand, I think this is the best choreo I’ve ever seen from Stephen Mear. I’m not normally a massive fan of his work, but I thought the dances here were fantastic, and the cagelles were the best part of the show for me.

Debbie Kurup is wasted in a thankless role with awful mixing on her vocals. Justice for Debbie!

3 stars because I didn’t think it was actually a bad production, but I was disappointed.

If you do TodayTix Rush on the morning of the show it’s central front row for under half the price of the row behind you. You do have to look up but don’t miss any action and get tons of legroom. Plus you have a very good sense of the chance of rain. Not sure how easy travel to London would be for you at late notice as I know that’s a problem for some people, but if that’s possible this certainly means you’re less likely to be stuck with a credit note.




And yes, the credit is perpetual. So you could in theory use your Into The Woods ticket to see this. Although I think you’d probably have to have some way of proving you were at a rained off show and where you were sitting in order for them to agree to it. My online account doesn’t show Into The Woods on it and I definitely saw it (and bought a ticket on the website) so it’s possible the online box office system has been changed since then but worth calling up and seeing if they can match your name to a record, I’d say.

Gotta say, I’m really shocked to be reading negative reviews on this from people here. I went last night (perfect night for outdoor show with a beautiful breeze) and loved pretty much every single thing about it. Having seen great and awful productions of this show I know just how easy it is to mess it up and after some of the recent OAT offerings, I was fully prepared for the worst. But the set, the cast, the…everything were just brilliant I thought. I’m sorry that others here didn’t see what I saw in it but I can tell you I don’t remember a time I felt such a palpable love from an audience at curtain call. There’s a difference between a standing ovation and a rousing ovation of love being shown to the cast and that’s what I witnessed last night.

So hopefully more people go and enjoy it and see what myself and a lot of others yesterday saw.

I loved the Regents Park revival. I hadn't seen the show since the original Broadway production. I don't understand how anyone can call it dated. I'm American. Was there ever a time when threats to the drag community were ever more present, or when drag was so specifically targeted as it is today? La Cage, with its politician character who wants to close drag down, is the perfect show for our times, perhaps even more relevant than when it premiered in 1983.