'La Cage Aux Folles' or How to Avoid Post Show Blues by Doing Another Show.

 

'Billy Elliot' ended, and with it my connection to family and kin in the North East of England. I shelved my pseudo Geordie accent and put away the beautiful harmonies and anthemic call of the Celtic influenced score.

And moved on to La Cage Aux Folles.

 

Deputy Edouard Dindon and Madame Dindon present their daughter Anne.

In a plot uncannily similar to that of The Addams Family musical, Jean-Michel, the son of a night club owner and his partner Albin (who is the star of the drag show), brings his ultra conservative girlfriend's family home to meet 'the parents'. Unfortunately he asks Albin to absent himself as his overtly theatrical ways could not easily be explained away.

As hurt as he is Albin (the star) agrees reluctantly to absent himself on this important occasion. The salacious apartment is cleaned up and turned into an austere cell, worthy of any monk. 

But there are cracks in the veneer, notably in the plates! Madame Dindon spies a strange pattern on the dinner service, resembling young naked boys playing leapfrog! What could it mean??

Before any conclusions can be drawn, 'Mother' arrives!

 

The whole company go out to dinner where 'Mother' sings a wonderful song, enamoring herself to all present. 

 

But, disaster! Hearing the applause, Albin automatically removes his wig as he does at the end of every performance.

The jig is UP! Everyone rushes back to the apartment above the night club, 'La Cage Aux Folles', but they are trapped by the waiting press who have got wind of the presence of the famous moral campaigner Edouard Dindon being seen in the company of one of the most famous drag queens on the Riviera!

How will the Dindons escape the scandal? There is only one way. They must join the show!!!

 Anne is very comfortable in her new role.

 

Marie a little less so, although we did work out how to pin that stole to her shoulder straps after this dress rehearsal, thus preventing the nearly strangled look!

Edouard had a lot of work to do :-D

The family are hidden from the waiting press...

 

 And, after checking that the coast is clear...

....make a run for it!

This show was so much fun. Our Cagelles were spectacular! The dancing was punishing, for them anyway.  :-D  Their costumes were amazing. Have a little look.

 

 

But now it has all come to an end. Back to reality and all that. School has been very dull this week after all the feathers and glitter but we are off to see another show together on Friday night so all is not lost. When will I ever get another chance to grace the stage I wonder? Better get fit again and get to singing lessons. I think my showgirl days are numbered !! :-D :-D

The Month of Joy and Hell That Was March/April 2025

I'm checking in to this blog after a long time, to record some family events for dear Northern UK relatives who do not use facebook. It's kind of nice to be back. It's be a while!

Middle Sis and BIL arrived on the 24th of March. I got to see them for one night before their touring schedule whisked them away interstate. Of course the only other nights they were in town I had rehearsals.

Here we are on their first night, straight off the plane! Well then of course Billy Elliot opened. The BA (my daughter the Baby Angel for those not 'in the know') brought my cousin, her husband and daughter up to see the show. Here they are enjoying a pre-show drink...

They loved the show. In fact EVERYONE loved the show, despite some dubious Geordie accents. Here's a few highlights....

Foyer photos

Here's the opening number: ' The Stars Look Down (All Out Together)'

That's a rather tubby me fourth from the right. I blame the fisheye lens....

'Billy'  dancing to 'Electricity'

Me on the picket line shouting abuse at the 'scabs'

Anyway, you get the picture.

I took one day off work to spend with Middle Sis and BIL and we had a lovely trip through time visiting our old house and scattering some of Dad's ashes there.

This is our old house. We scattered some of Dad around a new sapling planted on the footpath outside the house.

Here we are in our old church, where Little Sis was baptised and Mum and I sang in the choir.

Here we all are in the garden of the church.

We went to the theatre that night and then I didn't see them for another 6 days. 

They went off to Kangaroo Island for a visit and on their return I drove down to Victor Harbour (scene of many a family holiday) and met them to scatter some more of Dad's ashes on Granite island. Here's the spot we chose....

We then visited our dear friends who came out to Australia with us on the Arcadia in 1962. First Class Friend is sitting next to me in this photo. She was 2 when we arrived together on the boat from England.

Finally they were off back to the Uk (sob sob sob) but at least I could wind down and start to recover after the hectic three weeks...

No sooner had I started to catch up on sleep and emotional energy than I was into rehearsals for my next show, 'La Cage Aux Folles'! I play the wife of a conservative politician. Photos to follow :-D

All of the memorabilia from Mum and Dad's place arrived in the second week of the school holidays so I was kept busy unpacking and packing things away. I have three or four artworks from their walls and this interesting chap, known fondly to us all as 'Smiley Man in The Hall'. Here he is installed in my garden, and that is a whole other story. He was HEAVY!!!!

Middle Sis is worried that he will be damaged by the weather but as I pointed out, none of THEM wanted him in THEIR houses! :-D

So that is it for now! Stay tuned for the next installment when I strut my stuff in 'La Cage Aux Folles'!