La Cage Aux Folles
Forget the chilly Norwich winter and replace it with the glitz and glamour of a flamboyant St Tropez show bar this January.Spectacular and sequin-filled, La Cage Aux Folles is on its way to Norwich Theatre Royal and promises to be a flamboyant spectacle to start 2017. An all-star cast headed by TV and theatre favourite John Partridge and Broadway actor Adrian Zmed will bring the show to the stage as we discovered.
It follows the story of George who lives an idyllic lifestyle in the heart of fashionable France running the nightspot of the title while keeping his partner and top drag artiste Albin in check. Despite a sometimes chaotic backstage life, the patrons of the club enjoy seemingly stylish nights out at La Cage, but things start to change when Georges’ son announces he is to marry the daughter of a right-wing politician. With a meeting of the parents looming, will Albin and Georges have to cover up their lifestyle? Expect plenty of comedy and lashings of flamboyance with West End star and TV favourite John Partridge, and Broadway performer and US TV star Adrian Zmed heading the cast along with West End legend Marti Webb when the show runs on January 17-21.
Adrian, who became popular in the UK as Vince Romano in hit Eighties cop show TJ Hooker, said he loves playing the part of Georges. “He has to make sure all the chorus boys are set and everything is ready to go. Right in the middle of this, his son drops this marriage bombshell and while this is all going on, he have to keep the ship sailing.”
Overall he is excited to work with a fantastic team on and off stage. “John and Marti are just wonderful in it and we have a very talented cast. I hope people will come away from it seeing it as a really grand show with great orchestration, incredible choreography and a beautifully structured script. There is never a boring moment,” said Adrian.
One key element of the show is Les Cagelles who form an integral part of the entertainment at the club. Two of them are no strangers to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage. Liam Jennings appeared in the city’s Snow White pantomime as well as the smash hit West Side Story, while Richard Leavey was a mainstay of the pantomime for several years.
Richard said the show will look amazing but is hard work. He said: “Us Cagelles have a massive Can Can number which is about eight minutes long with drop splits and we work our legs hard. We have to be really fit. We do an amazing warm-up every morning with the dance captain to make sure we are ready. You can’t just rock up to a show like this and go on stage straight away. You have to make sure that your body is well warmed up.”
Although the tour is going all over the country, he admits he cannot wait to return to Norwich. He said: “It is my favourite place to go and my heart lies with the Theatre Royal after appearing in pantomime there for many years. I have a lot of friends who work in the building and it is going to be fabulous to be there and see my extended family. It will be really nice.”
And although he has a huge affection for the theatre and its team, he loves the city itself. Richard explained: “It is a beautiful place. It looks stunning and has so many historic buildings. I have been going back and forth from Norwich now for 10 years. The city gets bigger and bigger, and more vibrant. I cannot wait to come back.”
La Cage Aux Folles, Tuesday 17-Saturday 21 January at 7.30pm, with Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets £8-£39.50. Discounts for Friends, Corporate Club, Over-60s, Under-18s, and Groups. Audio-described and signed performance on Saturday 21 January at 2.30pm.
To book, call 01603 630000 or log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
