The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
#1The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/6/15 at 9:29pm
I've seen some video clips of that production that starred Daniel Davis as Georges and Gary Beach as Albin and boy is it dull as a rock. I've remember reading something a long time ago in 2005 that Davis was being a diva to the cast and crew of that show to the point where he was fired and was replaced by the late Robert Goulet.
Anyone have memories of that production?
aj88
Featured Actor Joined: 3/18/15
#2The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/6/15 at 9:35pm
I remember seeing that production and finding it to be completely boring overall and it did not have the joy that other productions have had, particularly the 2010 version that I remember got a lot of backlash when it came in because it was only a few years after this revival but the quality of it was miles better.
The fact that this even won the 2005 Revival Tony is a testament to how weak that year was but even then I would've voted for the also weak but slightly better revival of Sweet Charity.
I do vaguely remember Daniel Davis having issues but I'd have to look into it more.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/6/15 at 9:48pm
It was not spectacular. I don't remember a lot, but do remember being glad I already knew what a lovely show it was.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#3The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/6/15 at 10:47pm
Whenever I look at the sets of the 2004-5 revival I can't help but to think that it belongs in Vegas and not Saint-Tropez. I agree aj88, the 2010 LA CAGE was 1,000 times better than the 2004 one.
Wilmingtom
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
#4The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/6/15 at 10:55pm
It was a dreadful production with no chemistry whatsoever between the very hard working Beach and the show-boating Davis. The word was that Davis was a homophobe and harrassing the chorus boys. Do I recall that he was brought up on charges before AEA? Of course why a homophobe would choose to be in that particular musical makes no sense. He was in fact fired, replaced by Goulet and the production closed shortly thereafter.
#5The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 9:05am
I remember that production well. I saw it just after Robert Goulet took over. Let me make it clear I was never a huge Goulet fan, but I thought "this is PERFECT casting" -- an over the hill "matinee idol" type singer who could easily pass as straight but is gay -- who better to play the role? Then I saw it! I was shocked. Robert Goulet was dull as dirt -- which was frankly a perfect marriage with the entire rest of the production.
Incidentally, one of my greatest experience is theatre was the original production. Act I ended and I turned to my partner to say "isn't this wonderful" and I literally could not form words. I was speechless -- I was that affected by the ACT I finale! I think I yawned at the finale of ACT I in the revival you mention.
#6The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:06am
The afternoon I saw the show, Gary Beach was out (filming The Producers movie, I believe) and Bryan Batt was on for him. I remember having real reservations about the production itself- it was very paint by numbers andhad a regional theater feel to it. However, Batt was outstanding- it was a performance that stayed with me for quite awhile after the show.
#7The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 11:05am
I think the entire production was misconceived. Having said that there were a few things I liked about this revival. I loved the "Bird in the Cage" bit during the number "La Cage Aux Folles", which led to the most amazing can-can.
Simply put, Gary Beach was not good in the role while Daniel Davis gave the finest performance of George I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot of productions, including the original OBC). His rendition of "Song on the Sand" was breathtaking. Mr Davis was not fired because he was homophobic (to the person who said this, you are an idiot). Mr. Davis and Mr Beach did not get along. When the shows attendance dropped, the producers used this as an excuse to get in a "star" (Robert Goulet) by firing Mr. Davis in hopes of attracting a bigger audience. The mistake was not only getting rid of the best thing in the production but also hiring Mr. Goulet who was way too old for the role and had trouble memorizing his lines.
#8The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:06pm
I saw Gary Beach and Robert Goulet. My memory is what a good time I had at the show!
I loved seeing Robert Goulet. He was a legend in his own way, and it was the last time he was on Broadway. He sounded great, and has never been a great actor. He was probably boring as Lancelot.
Gary Beach was ok. I thought they could have easily cast that part better.
But the CAGETTES!! And that athletic, insane choreography!! It made the whole night special. They were fantastic.
I didn't see the Douglas Hodge production. I wish I had, but I had a lot of fun at the 2004 production.
#9The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:48pm
Was it the first time that a music won Best Revival each time it played on Broadway... both times.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
#10The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:56pm
That revival was my first exposure seeing the show and I thought it was a lot of fun. Yes, it was over the top and flashy, but I was hooked. Of course it got a ton of mileage out of the Cagelles, who really became stars in their own right at the time, but I'm sure it got a lot of people into the show, and I'm happy I did too because I loved the score.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#11The LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Revival from 2004
Posted: 5/9/15 at 12:27am
I didn't find it boring, it was okay, but it certainly wasn't as good as the 2010 revival. Daniel Davis had a fine voice, but he was very stiff in the role and didn't have any chemistry whatsoever with anyone in the cast. I rather liked Gary Beach and think that in a better production with a better direction and Georges he could have been a great Albin.
La Cage doesn't have a strong book, so it needs great direction and cast to make the humour work (as opposed to shows like The Book of Mormon). That's something the production did not achieve, specially if you had already seen a better production.
Still, it could be a very pleasant time if you hadnt been familiar with the show, specially because it was still La Cage, a show that's very dear to me because of the 2010 production.
Updated On: 5/9/15 at 12:27 AM