My initial reaction to the musical was one of disappointment. We'd missed the chance of seeing Graham Norton in the show earlier in the year, but we though John Barrowman would be a great substitute. It was only after I bought the programme and got settled in my seat that I found the insert that read: 'At this evening's performance, due to his appearance on Children In Need, John Barrowman will not be appearing'. How selfish! I was frustrated because surely Children In Need is at a set date every year and as such the theatre should have been aware that Barrowman would be likely to miss this performance, and to put this information on the website when I booked the ticket (ticketmaster clearly showed the 2 dates that Melanie C wasn't appearing in Blood Brothers). I was determined not to let the disappointment or irritation spoil the show. It turns out I need not have worried. Albin was played by Chris Andrew Mellon, in his debut performance in the role it turns out, and he pulled it off magnificently - with subtlety and heart that I'm not sure Barrowman would be able to get across. I'll never know though.
I knew most of the story of La Cage through the Hollywood remake of the French film (!), The Birdcage, that stars Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Hank Azaria and a very young Calista Flockhart. I soon discovered that the story wasn't exactly the same - The Birdcage is more of a farce centered around the meal between the central gay characters and Hackman's conservative senator. Christine Baranski's character was created for the movie too. I was glad that I didn't know everything that was going to happen, but as with Barrowman's absense, it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the musical.- We Are What We Are – Les Cagelles, Georges
- Mascara – Albin, Les Cagelles
- With Anne on My Arm – Georges, Jean-Michel
- With You on My Arm – Albin, Georges
- Song on the Sand – Georges
- La Cage aux Folles – Company
- I Am What I Am – Albin
- Song on the Sand (Reprise) – Albin, Georges
- Masculinity – Albin, Georges, Monsieur Renaud, Madame Renaud, Tabarro
- Look Over There – Georges
- Dishes (Cocktail Counterpoint) – Anne, Monsieur Dindon, Madame Dindon, Georges, Jacob, Jean-Michel
- The Best of Times – Company
- Look Over There (Reprise) – Georges, Jean-Michel
- Finale – Company
The central performances from Simon Burke as Georges and Mellon as Albin were beautiful drawn. While I thought the beginning of the show lacked a little spark (maybe because as I say this was Mellon's first performance, I'm not sure, just speculating), things soon picked up and Albin became more than just a drama queen - numbers such as Song on the Sand and Look Over There provided real weight to the characters and their emotions. It was strange that the big song-and-dance number that closed the show ended with Albin in suit rather than in full, fabulous drag, yet the conclusion of the story felt true to the character and was the best way to end La Cage.
I enjoyed La Cage aux Folles a lot, and there were many highlights - Albin; I Am What I Am; the outrageous Jacob; Les Cagelles' every number; the comedy; the pathos; the stage; so much to choose from! Simon Burke addressed the audience after the final bows to say that the cast were collecting for Children in Need, and mentioned John Barrowman. An audience member summed up my feelings exactly when he shouted 'John who?'
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