“La Cage aux Folles”
Review by CATHY MATHIAS
Surfside is lighting up like a red-hot cabaret with a crazy collection of cross-dressing femme fatales in “La Cage Aux Folles” now running on weekends until November 18th. It’s about love conquering all odds against social conventions.
Directed by Jennifer Wolf, it’s the love story between Albin, a transvestite cabaret singer, and Georges, who runs the St. Tropez nightclub, “La Cage Aux Folles.” (That’s “cage of crazy women” in French but it’s usually translated as “birdcage” like title of the 1996 film.)
When Georges’ son, played by Kevin Scarlett, announces his engagement to the daughter of an extreme conservative politician and invites them for dinner, he wants to pretend his family is a heterosexual household for one night. But of course, is that possible?
Steven Wolf is elegant and debonair as Georges the MC of the nightclub. It’s amusing when Georges tries to teach the gentle Albin, lovingly portrayed by John Kurowski, how to act masculine like John Wayne so he can pose as the boy’s uncle.
Terrence Girard gives a solid performance as the straight-as- an-arrow politician, Edouard Dindon (French for “turkey”) and Donna Furfaro is funny as his wife. It’s wonderful how these actors can make you laugh with just a certain look on their faces.
You do not want to miss the performance of Felander Stevenson, who recently moved to Brevard from California.
This tall, skinny, all-knees-and-elbows Alabama native who portrays Jacob, the nervous “maid”, is hilarious with his physical comedy, usually in full panic mode.
In spite of some opening night jitters from the lighting and stage crew, the show is charming and full of energy. The best lighting comes during the red-district nightclub scene during Act I.
The opening night audience (filled with some really conservative-looking folks, I might add) obviously enjoyed the flamboyant over-the-top attitude of “les folles” flaunting their feathers and sequins.
SIDE O’ GRITS:
“La Cage aux Folles” runs through Nov. 18 at Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach. It performs 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. general, seniors and active military and students. Call 321-783-3127 or visit www.surfsideplayers.com.
