La Cage aux Folles (play)
La Cage aux Folles ([la kaʒ o fɔl], "The Cage of Madwomen") is a 1973 French farce by Jean Poiret[1] centering on confusion that ensues when Laurent, the son of a Saint Tropez night club owner and his gay lover, brings his fiancée's ultraconservative parents for dinner. The original French production premièred at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal on 1 February 1973 and ran for almost 1,800 performances. The principal roles were played by Jean Poiret and Michel Serrault. A French-Italian film of the play was made in 1978 (with two sequels La Cage aux Folles II (1980), directed by Édouard Molinaro[2] and La Cage aux Folles 3: 'Elles' se marient (1985), directed by Georges Lautner.) In 1983, Poiret's play was adapted in the United States as a musical with a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman[3] and later remade as the American film The Birdcage.[4] A new translation by actor Simon Callow premiered at the Park Theatre (London) in 2020.[5]
La Cage aux Folles | |
---|---|
Written by | Jean Poiret |
Characters | Georges Albin "Zaza" Francis Salomé Jacob Mercédès M. Tabaro Zorba Laurent M. Languedoc M. Dieulafoi Mme Dieulafoi Muriel Simone |
Date premiered | 1973 |
Place premiered | Théâtre du Palais-Royal Paris, France |
Original language | French |
Genre | Comedy; farce |
Setting | a nightclub in St. Tropez, France. |
References
- "Jean Poiret". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- Perrone, Pierre (19 December 2013). "Edouard Molinaro: Film director whose comedy 'La Cage Aux Folles' played a part in establishing mainstream acceptance of gay couples". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- "La Cage aux Folles". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- "The Birdcage". IMDB. IMDB.com, Inc. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- "Read Reviews for the La Cage Aux Folles [The Play] in London | Playbill". Retrieved 29 March 2023.