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DIVAS REALLY STRUT THEIR STUFF IN "LA CAGE"
by Ellen Brams
For The Patriot Ledger

All theater lovers - and anyone else wanting a full evening of thoroughly professional, raucous and robust entertainment - must see the Company Theater's current production of the Broadway musical, "La Cage Aux Folles."

It's masterfully produced and directed by Zoe Bradford and Jordie Saucerman and features fabulous musical direction by Michael Joseph (backed by a 20-piece orchestra) and the sometimes knockout and sometimes whimsical choreography of Sally Ashton Forrest.

If you saw the film version, "The Birdcage' with Robin Williams, you know this isn't just a show about gay relationships but about the glamour and glitter of the theater, questions of truth and illusion, of impersonation and reality and, ultimately, about love and the importance of family. At the same time, It is a funny, flamboyant, fully satisfying musical which appeals to those seeking Broadway glitz, lots of laughs, great music and catchy dance numbers. Exploring several relationships, it's a powerful lesson about keeping life real and honest, couched in flamboyant humor.

The story centers on the 20-year love affair of a gay couple- George, the owner of a chic drag queen night club on the Riviera, and Albin, his leading "lady." George has a son, Jean-Michel, from a transient encounter with a show girl; Jean-Michel is now engaged to Anne, whose father Is a conservative, virulently anti-gay politician. Neither Anne nor her parents know anything about Jean-MicheI's two male parents. Michael Kreutz, a veteran South Shore actor and cabaret singer, plays George with a glorious voice, evident in songs like "With You On My Arm" and "Song on the Sand" as well as the poignant "Look Over There." Punching it up as cabaret emcee is familiar turf for Kreutz, and his delivery is flawless.

It takes two to create a depiction of real, enduring love, and Christopher J, Hagberg as the effeminate, hysterical Albin, star of the nightclub show and George's beloved partner of 20 years, is the other half of this truly dynamic duo. While we chuckle nervously as Albin tries to go from swish to swagger, rehearsing to meet his prospective "in-laws," we can only marvel at his extraordinary performances as he runs up and down the emotional ladder like a kitten on the keys. Whether he's doing the ultimate "makeover" onstage, performing like a diva or tearing your heart out with the touching "I Am What I Am." Hagberg as Albin has the wildly appreciative audience in his well-deserved grip from start to finish. Jean-Michael, played with empathy and warmth by David Costa, and his betrothed, Anne, delightfully played by Lauren Gemelli, contrast George and Albln's long-term relationship with the passion and excitement of young love. Showing off a dreamy voice In "With Anne On My Arm" and a lump-in-your-throat rendition of "Look Over There," Costa is just right for the young romantic lead. A seasoned ballerina, Gemelli not only sparkles in her effervescent verbal delivery, but makes the young couple's dance routine something Fred and Ginger might have taken note of.

There are some truly wonderful supporting performances. John King as George and Albin's butler (and wannabe maid), Jacob, uses terrific acting skills, shameless shtick and a beautiful bod to generate many laughs and a lot of stolen scenes. Jim Anliot is effectively pompous, narrow-minded and disdainful as Anne's politician father, and Paula Markowicz is credible as his wife, whose specialty seems to be looking askance.

The drag queen ensemble at La Cage is a vital pert of the show's carnival atmosphere. David Good is deliciously good as the dominatrix, Hannah, with platforms to die for.
Michael McAdam is a vision in orange as the silver-tongued Phaedra, and Ean Orlando AlIeyne is a wonderful warbling winner as Chantal. La Cage's manipulative manager, Jacqueline, is played with gusto by Jackie Duffy.

Michael Warner, Jim Paiva, Susan Lawler and Stuart Finlay are among those rounding out a truly stellar cast. Their energy and joy were happily contagious. Get out of your "birdcages" and come see the most laughable, lovable play, where "birds" fly free and strut their stuff. After all, what better way to usher In spring.