La Cage Aux Folles at the Longacre Theatre on West 48th Street, stars the engagingly sweet and lovely couple played by Douglas Hodge and Kelsey Grammer. This La Cage, directed by Terry Johnson and choreographed by Lynne Page brings the beautiful Cagelles back to Broadway, and the important and enduring concept of living your truth, even when others ask you to suppress it. Look, I think seeing the show for two numbers is worth it. Especially musical numbers that are an important part of the great American musical repertoire.
The defiant, "I Am What I Am" is brilliant and crucial. And "The Best of Times" reminds us that we have to celebrate the things we enjoy and people that move us. The performances are perfectly fabulous, with a great turn by Christine Andreas as Jacqueline. The dancing is of course wonderful. I was a bit surprised to feel, however, that the piece is sort of dated. http://www.lacage.com
American Idiot, the Green Day rock musical, on the other hand, is modern and filled with technological wizardry, and very loud electric music, which is of the moment. However, the themes are the same as many other youth oriented musicals, with the central character fervently searching for meaning. I will say this piece did not speak to me, and it's not because I am not of the age of the character. It simply did not speak to me.
But, I do like Green Day music and there are so many recognizable songs in the piece that make the trip and the performance by the wonderful John Gallagher Jr. worthwhile. Directed by Spring Awakening's Michael Mayer, get ready for a highly stimulated musical journey at the St. James Theatre.
http://www.americanidiotonbroadway.com
Then there's Sondheim on Sondheim starring Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams and Tom Wopat. This may not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of musical theater, and want to understand the man behind the writing of these iconic songs, then this will appeal.
Conceived and directed by James Lapine, this piece presents audiences with an opportunity to hear the inner motivations of the master Sondheim himself, who is unbelievably 80 years old this year.
So many great pieces of music are intertwined with Sondheim on screen, talking about his formative years and how he works today. It's a master class in musical theater and it plays at Studio 54.
http://www.roundabouttheatre.org
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