LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES A REVIEW

The Menier Chocolate Factory is an enterprising theatre in London that seems to be making a career of taking full scale Broadway musicals and rethinking them in more intimate terms. This company has already sent us elegent bandbox reconceptions of "Sunday In The Park With George" and "A Little Night Music"and they both provided fine theatre evenings. What they are up to at the moment is a bold and extravagantly entertaning re-thinking of the 1983 Harvey Fierstein/ Jerry Herman musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES.
What makes this production special is the emphasis that is put on Mr. Fierstein's sturdy book which tells of the deep love between two men who have been professional and personal partners for many years,and the current debate over the rights of same sex couples make the story more timely now then it was 27 years ago. Mr. Herman's music is as freshly melodic as it always was and his lyrics [as always] are first rate.
Terry Jonhnson's stage direction is brilliantly conceived and superbly executed and fits Lynne Page's lively choreography like a glove.
The cast could not be better,and Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge are superb as the couple who survive many setbacks and still maintain their unbreakable bond. Mr Hodge was widely praised when he did this role in London and he is sure to get even more praise over here.Everyone else is performing at the top of their game and really understands the material.
The sets and costumes by Tim Shortall and Matthew Wright respectivly are fine and Jason Carr's skillful orchestrations for an eight peice band give the score a rich satisfying sound.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES is everything a revival should be and seldom is. Intelligently planned and brilliantly executed, it is a bold an satisfying theatre evening.
At THE LONGACRE THEATRE 220 WEST 48th STREET N.Y.C.