La Cage Aux Folles, the Christmas show at the Menier Chocolate Factory, has delayed its first performance by three days and moved its press night due to several members of the cast being unwell. The show now begins previews on 27 November before a press performance on 13 December at 14:00.
Based on a French play by Jean Poiret, the comedy follows Albin and Georges, two middle-aged lovers who run a drag nightclub in St Tropez, where Albin’s alter ego ZaZa is the star attraction. When Georges’s son announces he is getting married to the daughter of moralistic parents, and the new in-laws are coming to dinner, comedy chaos ensues.
La Cage Aux Folles originally opened on Broadway in 1983, with a London production three years later. As well as the original 1978 French language film, the story was given a Hollywood adaptation in 1996, with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage.
This new production at the Menier stars Douglas Hodge as Albin, Philip Quast as Georges, plus Tara Hugo, Neil McDermott, Jason Pennycooke, Iain Mitchell and Una Stubbs. They are directed by Terry Johnson.
CB