La Cage Aux Folles, Birminghsm Hippodrome - review and pictures
A cornucopia of delights - from the feathers to the sequins, the songs and the dancing, this was a musical with a powerful message.
La Cage Aux Folles was first performed at Birmingham Hippodrome in 1994. Last night, it took the venue by storm again, this time with the sizzling John Partridge as Albin.
With a chorus of dancers who knew their time step from their tap step shuffle ballchange - it was a thrill from beginning to end.
A Moulin Rouge-esk style cabaret mixed in with Partridge's down to earth northern charm it was hilarious in its own right.
With back stage described as "Primark on Black Friday" - to refer to some of the more politically correct jokes - it was the ideal antidote to a dreary Tuesday night.
The Hippodrome, located in the city's Gay Village was the perfect location for this menagerie of fabulous drag queens. Touching upon issues of prejudice, ridicule, and down right discrimination, at points this was a difficult show to open your eyes to - to see the damage heteronormative expectations have on those just unapologetically trying to be themselves.
Ultimately however, this was uplifting, powerful, exuberant and enjoyable. Young and old, gay and straight and everything in-between can and will find something to love dans la cage aux folles.
Even Monsieur Dindon aka Ding Dong is unable to escape the infectious joy that permeates everything and everyone on stage.
Samson Ajewole was our best friend and worst enemy as Jacob and Marti Webb as Jacqueline was the restaurateur with a voice that well, has and will continue to rock the West End.
The tenderness of Albin and Georges played by Adrian Zmed was sincere, believable and beautiful to see unfold whilst the concerns of their son Jean-Michele played by Dougie Carter seemed authentic if not misplaced.
The show was about family then, what makes one, what defines one and what makes one stronger.
As Georges says in the Look Over There - "So count all the loves who will love you /From now 'til the end of your life/ And when you have added the loves /Who have loved me before/ Look over there /Look over there /Somebody loves me more...."
The show runs at the Hippodrome until May 20. It lasts two hours and 30 mins.
For more information, contact the Hippodrome online or call the Box Office on 0844 338 5000.
