A successful comedy and anthem to diversity (before this word was adopted by the LGBTQ community), the play The Crazy Cage, created in Paris in 1973, has often been revived, then adapted for cinema and Broadway. The Press attended the premiere of his new production on Tuesday, starring Alex Perron and Marcel Leboeuf.
When we announced, last spring, yet another production of The Crazy Cagewe were curious to see what this new Quebec version would bring to the work. Unfortunately, the answer is: not much.
The scene takes place in Montreal in 1978. In a transvestite cabaret run by Georges and his lover Albin, the aging star of the nightclub. Georges receives a visit from his son Laurent, whom he raised with Albin for 20 years. He comes to announce to his father that he is going to marry the daughter of an ultra conservative and Catholic deputy. The latter is in town with his wife. However, Laurent has hidden his profession and his sexual orientation from his fiancée’s parents… The meeting of the two families will be both a cultural shock and a beautiful comic crescendo.
The clown is happy
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
The cult play by Jean Poiret, directed by Joël Legendre, with among others (in the photo) Guiillaume Borys and Marcel Leboeuf.
A cross between a show at the Théâtre des Variétés and an evening at Cabaret Mado (with more budget and costumes!), this Cage…2024 is an electrifying, chaotic and psychotronic experience. Director Joël Legendre renews the form. And offers a fairly entertaining “cabaret 2.0” experience, with local drag performers warming up the room before the performance and at intermission. However, he neglects the substance, the message of the piece, to show off. In fact, he doesn’t read it at all.
On stage, the characters are clowns in makeup and glitter, perched on their heels. Badly directed, the performers putter around, playing two or three notches above the limit. We seem to have forgotten to tell them that there is no point in shouting… when you have microphones.
The queens of Quebec
In addition to directing, Legendre is responsible for the adaptation, assisted by Sylvain Larocque. We transposed the action from Saint-Tropez to Montreal. References are made to Sorel and Laval; to Michèle Richard and Denise Bombardier. We allow ourselves anachronisms: a “fashion show” on Vogue by Madonna… in 1978! Georges says to a journalist who has infiltrated the backstage of his establishment: “Give me your Kodak, my tabarnak!! » A question of emphasizing the fact that we are indeed in the land of Tremblay, and not that of Poiret.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Half a dozen local drag queens come to warm up the room before the performance.
In the main roles, Marcel Leboeuf (Georges) and Alex Perron (Albin) perform well at the start. However, in the second act, the cast lets loose! The stage becomes a burlesque arena. At dinner with his parents, Alex Perron adopts a tone of voice so false that, at times, he is incomprehensible…
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
Alex Perron and Tracy Trash, two queens of The Cage… Quebec version.
Certainly, the production is colorful. Just like Michel Robidas’ costumes. The lines make you laugh or smile. But The Crazy Cage is not just a succession of gags and flamboyant numbers. It’s a cult piece. In the 1970s, just like today. The “crazy women” in this comedy are flamboyant, sometimes ridiculous, but always beautiful and straight. Faced with hatred, contempt and intolerance, they fight for a free world without prejudice. With pride.
It’s hard to believe that this show without soul or emotion manages to change the mentalities of narrow minds.
Visit the show website
The Crazy Cageby Jean Poiret
Directed by Joël Legendre.
With among others Alex Perron, Marcel Leboeuf, Stéphan Allard.
At the Studio-Cabaret of Espace St-Denis, until November 16.The show is expected to do a provincial tour which will be announced later.