LA CAGE AUX FOLLES in Boca Raton, starring Lee Roy Reams and Walter Charles!

[Overkill]

So, I just got back from The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum, in Boca Raton, FL! The whole theatre is a true, moving, classy experience. This new theatre is owned and run by the famous, Costume World. There are even tours of the museum, which is just incredible. Filled with original Broadway costumes.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is playing now, starring Broadway Royalty, Lee Roy Reams as Albin, and veteran Walter Charles as Georges. Not to mention an AMAZING cast of Cagelles, and local notables. The costumes are all a mixture from the original production, and the 2004 revival. It was an amazing, polished, Broadway caliber show. Are Lee Roy and Walter a bit long in the tooth? Yes (especially Walter) But it certainly isn't evident with Lee Roy. His Albin/ZaZa is as breathtaking as ever. And Walter's voice soars, "Song on the Sand" stops the show. The chemistry between the two is also very evident, as they were both in the original Broadway production.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend the production and the theatre! It was like one huge Theatre history experience.
THE WICK THEATRE in Boca Raton, FL

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Didn't Walter Charles replace George Hearn as Albin on Broadway?

[Overkill]

Walter was the original understudy for both Albin and Georges, and he was in the ensemble.. I think he eventually played Albin regularly on Broadway, but I know for sure that he opened the L.A. company of La Cage as Albin!

[Robbie2]

Broadway Royalty -Lee Roy Reams...really?
HA ~ OMG!
These 2 in La Cage?
Reams is 72 Charles 69
OOOoooooooooooook!

[sondheimfan2]

I saw Walter Charles as Albin diring a national tour stop in Philadelphia .... In 1984! So, are we to believe that Jean-Michel is the offspring of a "youthful liaison" of Georges during his late 40s?

[sondheimfan2]

Walter Charles on the Tonys

[sondheimfan2]

Just checked my Playbill. It was Keene Curtis, not Walter Charles.

[JPeterman]

Thank you for the info about the Wick. I go to S. Florida a lot and I have never heard of this place. I will see Man of La Mancha there in March, thanks!

[Overkill]

I went back to see the show a few days ago, and it's only gotten better!!! Both men are obviously not in their PRIME, but they are turning in very fine, well rounded, legendary performances. The Cagelles are TOP. NOTCH. As are the supporting members of the cast - ESPECIALLY Angie Radosh (John Tartaglia's mom) as a hilariously drunken Mme. Dindon. The costumes are stunning!!!

BWW did a special article on the theatre and production, there are some photos! Check it out!
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Special-The-Wick-Theatre-and-Costume-Museum-Shines-with-LA-CAGE-AUX-FOLLES-More-20150119


Robbie2 - Um. Yes. If you google Mr. Reams yourself, you'll see that he's been "Broadway Royalty" for QUITE a while now. People in the NY theatre scene treat him as a God, because he is not only one of the nicest, sweetest men in the business, he's also one of the most experienced. Being 72, he's been working on Broadway since the 60's and has never left the scene - even though he hasn't be ON Broadway since The Producers. He is very much in the same category as Carol Channing or Tommy Tune, for example. Both of which, I personally, would also call "Broadway Royalty".

ALSO, since they are both in the same age range, the age is not distracting. My only thing I wish, is that they would have put a toupee on Walter, like they did for Kelsey Grammar. It's very much believable that a 69 year old could father a now 24 year old. And if anything, it only sweetens Albin and Georges's relationship all the more. You really believe they've had this life and love together for a long time. Can I also say how AGIST it is of you to judge two men for the roles they're playing, based SOLELY on their age? Lee Roy may be 72, but he reads like he's in his 50s EASY. You wouldn't know that, seeing as how you don't seem to know much about him at all. Also, I can assume you haven't seen their performances yet. It's very unfair to have that kind of opinion of two men who've gotten RAVES for playing these characters before, all because you think they're old. I can only HOPE to be doing what these two men are achieving at their age, in work and talent.

JPeterman - No problem! They're only growing, and their costume museum is ANY Broadway fan's wet dream. Crazy. George Dvorsky will be Don Quixote in La Mancha!

[PalJoey]

Robbie2 says:

Broadway Royalty -Lee Roy Reams...really?
HA ~ OMG!
These 2 in La Cage?
Reams is 72 Charles 69
OOOoooooooooooook!

I think the only proper and appropriate respose to Robbie2 is:

Asshole.

[goldenboy]

Caught it this week at the Wick. The Wick is a first class operation and this is a first class production.


I personally don't think Leroy Reams has the acting chops to pull the outrageous ZaZa off. He gives a serviceable performance but not a star turn in any sense of the word. George Hearn and Keene Curtis were much better and much funnier. Dare we mention Nathan Lane? His '"I Am What I am" lacked punch and failed to move but his his "Best of Times" was spot on and roused the audience. Reams did a lot better as the stuffy mother than as the outrageous ZaZa.

Walter Charles was in fine voice.




The supporting cast was quite good---especially the gentleman playing the son, Diddon and his wife. (sorry don't have a program handy.) The Cagelles dance well but didn't have the characterization of the original where each Cagelle had a personality. They were simply "the Cagelles; a dancing chorus.

Still worth going to and the Wick is selling out on this run. Looking forward to Man of La Mancha.