La Cage aux Folles [The Play] @ Park Theatre...

Last Friday night Stuart and I went to see La Cage aux Folles at the Park Theatre in London's glitzy Finsbury Park.

The adverts, the reviews and the publicity were very keen to point out to us that this was *THE PLAY* and *NOT THE MUSICAL* of La Cage aux Folles. Not that that mattered to us to be honest. The musical is great and all that but we'd be just as happy to see an English translation of a broad French gay farce as an American musical version of one.

The story is perhaps fairly well trod by now anyway. Gay couple run a drag night club, straight son of Georges (Michael Matus) wants to introduce the straight-laced parents of his fiancée, drag-artiste Albin (Paul Hunter) has to act straight, gleeful hilarity ensures.

We laughed a lot. Both the leads are well served by Simon Callow’s English translation and there is lots of fun to be had from the high camp and haute couture. Syrus Lowe steals the show as Jacob though, who is Georges and Albin's scantily clad, shrieking servant.

Dated though? Sure. Still funny? Yes. Rip-roaringly, gut-bustingly funny? Not quite. Some good moments. Some bitchy one liners. But if you do go and see it I'd strongly recommend having a few stiff ones first (<--- level of jokes in show!)