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Laughs a la ‘La Cage’

Dated but endearing musical charms with gay parenting tale

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‘La Cage aux Folles’
Through Feb. 12
The Kennedy Center
$65 and up
202-467-4600
kennedy-center.org

George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber, center, in ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ playing now at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Paul Kolnik; courtesy Kennedy Center)

Sometimes smaller is better. Case in point: Terry Johnson’s Tony Award-winning revival of “La Cage aux Folles” now at the Kennedy Center. The Broadway director’s scaled-down take on the feel-good musical is a charmer. Far more enjoyable than previous, more lavishly produced versions.

Before the show begins, a sassy drag queen wearing a pastel suit and pillbox hat (a salute to first ladies of yesteryear) takes a seat on the edge of the stage and warms up the crowd. She jokes with those filing in, asking about birthdays and anniversaries. She advises the buttoned-up folks in the crowd to relax, then inquires if there are any Indian, black, or Jewish lesbians in the house. After her, the audience is ready for anything.

With a hummable score by Jerry Herman (gay) and big-hearted book by Harvey Fierstein (also gay),” La Cage” is an old fashioned musical about family. Georges (George Hamilton) owns a drag club on the Riviera where his longtime partner Albin (Christopher Sieber) performs as Zaza. Together they’ve raised Jean-Michel (Billy Harrigan Tighe), Georges’ son from a long ago night of experimentation with a less-than-maternal playmate. The action kicks off when their son unexpectedly returns home for a visit, followed soon after by his new fiancée and her right-wing politician father and cowed mother. Needless to say, much zaniness, hurt feelings, anger and sentiment ensues.

Sieber’s Zaza is a big-boned, glittery diva (looks like Tyne Daly rolled in sequins) who works the room (in this case the Eisenhower Theater) like a pro. Her old school act references Marilyn and Marlene. But Lynne Page’s incredible, acrobatic choreography is left to Zaza’s back-ups, the lovely Cagelles (Matt Anctil, Logan Keslar, Donald C. Shorter Jr., Mark Roland, Terry Lavell and Trevor Downey). However, make no mistake, despite the sexy showgirl getups (compliments of costume designer Matthew Wright) not one of these muscular chorus boys could be mistaken for a real lady. But that’s part of the fun. Johnson’s reimagined dancers are vastly more entertaining than the much longer, mixed kick line of biologically female chorines and passable lovelies seen in past productions.

Set designer Tim Shortall cleverly sets the scene with a palm-decorated, scallop-topped proscenium. His stage within a stage quickly transforms into Georges and Albin’s over-decorated flat above the club in which the backstage story plays out.

Buzz surrounding the national tour suggested that 72-year-old movie actor and jetsetter George Hamilton was a big disappointment as Georges. In fact, he’s quite endearing in the role of the indulgent father and loving spouse. With his fabled suntan and signature insouciance, he certainly fits the part of a San Tropez club owner. And while he isn’t much of a dancer, his singing isn’t bad.

As high maintenance-but-lovable Albin, Broadway musical veteran Siebert s is simply terrific. He’s a powerhouse performer who plumbs the part for big laughs but can also dial down his performance when needed. But Sieber is at his best when Albin’s personal life spills into alter ego Zaza’s drag act and he belts Herman’s gay anthem “I Am What I am” with heartfelt power.

Adapted from the same-titled French play, “La Cage Aux Folles” was a little racy when it premiered on Broadway in 1983. Whatever shock value the show once had is gone. Same-sex parents are a nightly news and sitcom staple. Still, the creaky plot cranks out laughs and its messages of self- acceptance and the importance of family whatever its composition still resound strongly.

 

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Books

Celebrate Pride month by reading these books

History, pop culture, and more

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(Photo courtesy of Terri Schlichenmeyer)

You’ve done your share of marching.

You’re determined to wring every rainbow-hued thing out of this month. The last of the parties hasn’t arrived yet, neither have the biggest celebrations and you’re primed but – OK, you need a minute. So pull up a chair, take a deep breath, and read these great books on gay history, movies, and more.

You probably don’t need to be told that harassment and discrimination was a daily occurrence for gay people in the past (as now!), but “American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives” by Robert W. Fieseler (Dutton, $34) tells a story that runs deeper than you may know. Here, you’ll read a historical expose with documented, newly released evidence of a systemic effort to ruin the lives of two groups of people that were perceived as a threat to a legislature full of white men.

Prepared to be shocked, that’s all you need to know.

You’ll also want to read the story inside “The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS” by Martin Padgett (W.W. Norton & Company, $31.99), which sounds like a novel, but it’s not. It’s the story of one man’s fight for a basic right as the AIDS crisis swirls in and out of American gay life and law. Hint: this book isn’t just old history, and it’s not just for gay men.

Maybe you’re ready for some fun and who doesn’t like a movie? You know you do, so you’ll want “Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness” by Michael Koresky (Bloomsbury, $29.99). It’s a great look at the Hays Code and what it allowed audiences to see, but it’s also about the classics that sneaked beneath the code. There are actors, of course, in here, but also directors, writers, and other Hollywood characters you may recognize. Grab the popcorn and settle in.

If you have kids in your life, they’ll want to know more about Pride and you’ll want to look for “Pride: Celebrations & Festivals” by Eric Huang, illustrated by Amy Phelps (Quarto, $14.99), a story of inclusion that ends in a nice fat section of history and explanation, great for kids ages seven-to-fourteen. Also find “Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped Shape” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Levi Hastings (Simon & Schuster, $19.99), a lively book about a not-often-told secret for kids ages six-to-ten; and “Papa’s Coming Home” by Chasten Buttigieg, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Philomel, $19.99), a sweet family tale for kids ages three-to-five.

Finally, here’s a tween book that you can enjoy, too: “Queer Heroes” by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones (Wide Eyed, $14.99), a series of quick-to-read biographies of people you should know about.

Want more Pride books? Then ask your favorite bookseller or librarian for more, because there are so many more things to read. Really, the possibilities are almost endless, so march on in.

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Music & Concerts

Indigo Girls coming to Capital One Hall

Stars take center stage alongside Fairfax Symphony

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The Indigo Girls are back in the area next week. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Records)

Capital One Center will host “The Indigo Girls with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra” on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at Capital One Hall. 

The Grammy Award-winning folk and pop stars will take center stage alongside the Fairfax Symphony, conducted by Jason Seber. The concerts feature orchestrations of iconic hits such as “Power of Two,” “Get Out The Map,” “Least Complicated,” “Ghost,” “Kid Fears,” “Galileo,” “Closer to Fine,” and many more.

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster or in person at Capital One Hall the nights of the concerts. 

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Calendar

Calendar: June 13-19

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, June 13

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s new location at 1827 Wiltberger St., N.W. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Women in Their Twenties and Thirties will be at 8 p.m. at Wundergarten. An update will be posted the night of the event on where to find WiTT’s table. There’ll be a Pride flag to help people find the group. For more details, join WiTT’s closed Facebook group

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at Freddie’s Beach bar and Restaurant. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, June 14

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Pride Month Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Rainbow History Project will host “Behind the Scenes With the Senior Curator of ‘Pickets, Protests and Parades’” at 7:30p.m. at Freedom Plaza. This behind-the-scenes experience offers a rare glimpse into the creative process behind this groundbreaking showcase of DC’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn about the bold design decisions that shaped the Quote Wall and Hero Cubes and the powerful stories that almost made the cut. Tickets cost $82 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

Monday, June 16

“Center Aging Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. in person at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary. Whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more information, visit their website at www.genderqueerdc.org or check us out on Facebook

Tuesday, June 17

Bi+ Roundtable and Discussion will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting. Check out Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Wednesday, June 18

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

“Legends Live Loud: A Queer Karaoke Experience” will be at 7 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This will be a dynamic, Center-wide karaoke event celebrating the brilliance and cultural impact of some of our most colorful queer icons. The Center will honor legends through music, pop culture, dance, and inextinguishable liberation. For more details and to sign up, visit the DC Center’s website

Thursday, June 19

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Book Club” at 7:30 p.m. at Federico Ristorante Italiano. This book club is co-hosted by EQUALITY NoVa and is another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. The group doesn’t discriminate when it comes to genres it reads – from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Cultivating Change Foundation will host “Cultivating Pride Happy Hour” at 5:30 p.m. at Dacha Beer Garden. This Pride month, the organization is inviting LGBTQ+ people and allies in food and agriculture to come together in communities nationwide. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect, celebrate, and build community, whether it’s over coffee, a cocktail, or a conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

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