'La Cage Aux Folles' at The Playhouse

On Wednesday last week we went to see 'La Cage Aux Folles' at the Playhouse Theatre. I've seen this production before and enjoyed it so it was a nice way to wind down in the evening after a detour to see Amanda Palmer at Forbidden Planet. Roger Allam and Philip Quast were the leads (Philip Quast took this role when the production opened at the Choccy Factory last year) but Roger leaves this week and John Barrowman takes over the role next week. And what role is that? The transvestite role of course, as he proudly states in the play.

I like it again but still get annoyed at the selfish antics of the son who wants to deny his parents lives to impress the right-wing father of his fiance. And why does the actor play almost the whole of the part with his hands on his hips? Doesn't he know what to do with his hands? The annoyance with him is more than made up for by the energetic dancers, Les Cagelles, who leap around and cavort across the stage and with each other, pulling poses, doing cartwheels and dangerous-looking splits (ouch). They were great. As were Roger and Philip in their lead roles. Philip has nicely grown into his role and made it his own, tirelessly flirting with the audience as the nightclub host. Roger confused me greatly, looking a bit like Divine when he's in drag and sounding like John Sargeant throughout - John Sargeant, I tell you! What's he doing on stage?

Probably because the play has been going for some time now, they've started ad-libbing in places and that brings a bit of freshness to the play and dialogue. They don't go too far, but the little jokes are well worth it. Whether it'll be the same with John Barrowman or not, I couldn't say. I enjoyed it!