Custom pulses by each shine, sparkle, wig, and eyelash in The Croswell’s radiant new manufacturing of “La Cage aux Folles.” Equal elements spectacle and soul, this present is a glittering love letter to the origins of drag, transporting audiences to a world that feels each nostalgic and urgently related. Beneath the route of John MacNaughton, the forged and crew ship a manufacturing that’s as transferring as it’s fabulous.
Full disclosure: I grew up loving “The Birdcage,” the 1996 movie adaptation that reimagines this musical with just a few tweaks in setting and tone. The bones of the story stay the identical, even right down to a number of the dialogue, so when The Croswell introduced it was staging the unique musical that impressed one in every of my favourite movies, I used to be equal elements thrilled and apprehensive. May it stay as much as the model that meant a lot to me?
I’m completely satisfied to report that each actor not solely met my expectations, however typically surpassed them.
The story facilities on Georges (Eric Parker) and Albin (Johnny Reed), a pair who run the titular drag nightclub in Saint-Tropez. Their lives are thrown into chaos when their son, Jean-Michel (Matthew Porter), broadcasts his engagement to Anne (Caroline Coy), whose father, Edouard Dindon (Lane Hakel), is an infamously conservative and bigoted politician. What follows is a sequence of comedic and heartfelt makes an attempt to make the household seem as “straight and slim” as attainable with a purpose to impress the in-laws. Aided by a vibrant ensemble of characters and show-stopping nightclub performers, the plot by no means lags in vitality or allure.
The La Cagelles alone are well worth the value of admission. Every performer brings their very own distinctive aptitude and persona to the stage, crafting a vibrant world of drag that radiates authenticity and pleasure. Johnny Reed’s portrayal of Albin is particularly unforgettable, emotive, grand, and totally irreplaceable. Evan James Copeland delivers comedic brilliance as Jacob, the loyal (and delightfully dramatic) butler/maid, whereas Parker anchors the story together with his wealthy baritone and quiet power.
The manufacturing’s technical components are simply as spectacular. Scenic designer Doug Miller and his staff rework the stage into every thing from a classic nightclub to a comfy residence with seamless class. The costumes, designed by Alexandria Szczotka, are as dazzling as they’re numerous, completely complemented by David Blackburn’s hanging make-up and Tallie Kissinger’s extravagant wigs. The velocity and precision of the costume modifications are a present in themselves.
And let’s not overlook the choreography. Dean Shullick’s dynamic motion route brings a vibrant pulse to the present, reinforcing the deep sense of custom and fervour woven into each step.
In the end, what makes “La Cage aux Folles” soar is its coronary heart. This can be a manufacturing grounded in love, household, and authenticity, one which uplifts the artwork of drag and vaudeville not simply as leisure, however as an important type of self-expression. The Croswell’s tackle this basic is a glowing reminder of the sweetness in being seen and the ability in being unapologetically your self.
When you’ve got the prospect to see it, go. Let it remind you of what drag stands for. Let it transfer you.
THE CROSWELL’s manufacturing of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES continues by Sunday June twenty second. Tickets might be bought right here.