"Torch Song" at Six Points Theater

A few years ago, Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein wrote a new adaptation of his 1982 play Torch Song Trilogy (for which he won two of his four Tonys), cutting it down to about two and a half hours from the original four. Six Points Theater is presenting this version, that still feels like three distinct but related one-act plays. It's a beautiful and heart-wrenching story about a gay man navigating his career as a drag queen, dating, relationships, and family. Full of heart and humor and featuring a lovely and heartfelt performance by Neal Beckman, this Torch Song is a joy to experience. See it at Six Points Theater (in the Highland Park Community Center) now through May 19.

"Kinky Boots" at the Orpheum Theatre

There's something about putting on a beautiful, well-made pair of high heels that makes me feel stronger, more confident, even happier, helping me to literally and figuratively walk taller in the world. But women aren't the only ones who get to experience this pleasure. For drag queens I imagine it's an even greater transformation - donning heels, wigs, make-up, and dresses to create a new persona that perhaps feels more natural than the one society expects of them. The 2013 Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots celebrates this love of shoes and self-identity in a glorious, fun, warm-hearted way. But of course it's about more than just shoes (even if they are "the most beautiful thing in the world"). As with most musicals there's a love story at its core, but this time the love story is a friendship between two very different men who grow to admire and respect each other, encouraging each other to live up to their full potential. With this great story (based on a 2005 movie that was based on a true story) adapted to the stage by Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein with music by music legend Cyndi Lauper, it's a surefire hit!

Charlie (Steven Booth) and Lola (Kyle Taylor Parker)
(photo by Matthew Murphy)

In this fictionalized version of the true story, Charlie inherits his father's shoe factory in Northampton England. The business is in trouble and Charlie is faced with the prospect of firing his friends and neighbors, until he gets a brilliant idea. Through a chance encounter with a drag queen named Lola, he discovers a niche market - high-heeled boots for men. He convinces Lola to help him design the line and make samples for an upcoming fashion show in Milan. Like any good love story, the two share their deepest feelings (bonding over not living up to their fathers' expectations), have fun together (dancing, singing, and creating beautiful shoes), and argue (Charlie feels the pressure of the business and lashes out at Lola's choices), only to resolve their differences just in time to save the day. It's a beautiful, uplifting, fun story.

One might think it's a given that the woman who gave us "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Time After Time" could write a Tony-winning score. But not all successful pop musicians can write a successful Broadway musical (cough-Spiderman-cough). It's a different beast. But Cyndi Lauper has the musical, lyrical, and emotional chops to write for musical theater, as evidence by this fantastic pop-rock score with fun singable anthems and beautiful ballads. I just downloaded the cast recording, and it's sure to become my top-down summer soundtrack. "Everybody say yeah!"

the cast of Kinky Boots (photo by Matthew Murphy)

The cast of this first national tour is quite fantastic. It's a difficult task to step into the high-heeled boots of Billy Porter (who won a Tony for his performance and is still in the show on Broadway after a few brief hiatuses). But never having seen Billy's performance, I can say that in this show, Lola is completely Kyle Taylor Parker's role. He displays incredible vocal and emotional range, playing the over-the-top drag queen, the modest and unsure man behind her, and everything in between. He looks  and sounds gorgeous, whether in men's or women's clothes. Completing this sweet bromance is Steven Booth as Charlie, a charming boy next door (if you live in Northampton) who also sings the heck out of these songs. Standouts in the ensemble are, of course, the six beautiful Angels supporting Lola, and Lauren Nicole Chapman as a factory worker with a crush on Charlie, whose "The History of Wrong Guys" is a crowd-pleaser.

I've never seen anyone dance on a conveyor belt before, but the cast of Kinky Boots does, and it's amazing. It's so much fun to watch, and this, along with the fabulous drag numbers and a slow-mo fight scene, is the reason director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell won a Tony for his choreography.

A musical about shoes, drag queens, and blue collar workers in England, with a heart-warming story and a fantastic pop-rock score. What's not to love? Playing through this weekend at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre.

"A Catered Affair" by Porchlight Music Theater at Stage 773 (Chicago)

I've been thinking about taking the train to Chicago for a theater weekend, since I hear it's almost as good a theater town as Minneapolis/St. Paul.  But I haven't managed to make it happened yet.  So when I had to go to Chicago for a meeting last weekend, I jumped at the chance to see some theater.  Unlike my last work trip to Southern California, where there was only one theater in town, I was faced with a plethora of plays and musicals to choose from, and only one night to see something.  I didn't know how to begin making the choice, so I used the website Theater in Chicago as a guide.  It lists all of the shows playing and summarizes the reviews, and even lists the top rated shows.  Unfortunately, by the time I started seriously looking (the day before), most of the top rated shows were sold out.  So I ended up seeing the musical A Catered Affair by Porchlight Music Theater, which also received pretty good reviews.  Not the most edgy or unique choice, perhaps, but I was happy to support a local Chicago musical theater company (as opposed to the several big Broadway productions in town).  And I could do worse than a musical by Harvey Fierstien (who also wrote the book for La Cage aux Folles), with music and lyrics by John Bucchino.  It turned out to be a fun evening and a great entry into the world of Chicago theater.

A Catered Affair opened on Broadway in 2008 to mixed reviews, and closed after a few months.  Based on the 1956 movie of the same name, it's set in the Bronx in the 1950s and features a young couple who want to get married in a hurry.  But not for the reason you think, they just want to skip all of the hoopla and get on with the honeymoon and the rest of their lives.  The bride's mother is upset when she hears this; she wants to give her daughter a big wedding to make up for the fact that she's lived her life in the shadow of her brother, who has recently been killed overseas (I'm assuming in the Korean War).  Kate reluctantly agrees to a big wedding for the sake of her mother, who herself regrets having to get married quickly (this time it is for the reason you think).  The wedding plans start to get out of hand, as they often do, and to make peace the bride and groom decide to go back to the simple wedding they had planned.  But it's not all a loss; the bride's parents grow closer while facing some long lingering issues in their relationship.  The wedding also inspire Kate's "confirmed bachelor uncle," to move out of his sister's home and move in with the man he loves.  Love is all around in A Catered Affair - young love, old love, unconventional (for the 1950s) love.

This is a capable and talented cast, and makes me wish I could see more of the Porchlight Music Theatre (their next show is Jonathan Larson's pre-RENT semi-autobiographical musical Tick, Tick... Boom!, and they're also currently doing a completely improvised musical which looks super fun and sadly wasn't playing the night I was in town).  Kelly Davis Wilson is delightfully earnest and spunky as the young bride.  Rebecca Finnegan as her mother brings a gravity to the mostly light-hearted musical.  She never lets us forget that this is a mother who just lost her son; it informs even the happy moments.  Jerry O'Boyle is entertaining and loveable as Uncle Winston, a role which Harvey Feirstein played on Broadway.  He also filled Harvey's (high-heeled) shoes in Hairspray for over 1000 performances on tour.  It turns out I saw him perform the role in Minneapolis in 2007 (I looked it up - yes, I keep all of my playbills).  The ensemble fills out the rest of the family and neighborhood with life and color.  The band sounds lovely, including the strings which were seated to the left of the stage, and the rest which were for some reason hidden backstage.

The show was at Stage 773, which houses several theaters and theater companies.  It was a happening place; the lobby was filled with people when I left the show.  I'm not familiar enough with Chicago to know where the "theater district" is, but I passed several other theaters on the way to Stage 773 (via the fabulous public transportation system).  This wasn't quite the full weekend of theater I'm still hoping to do sometime, but I had a very enjoyable evening in the city.  I hope to get back to Chicago sometime soon to continue to explore their huge theater scene.

"La Cage aux Folles" at the State Theatre

"The best of times is now.  What's left of summer but a faded rose?  The best of times is now.  As for tomorrow, well, who knows?  So hold this moment fast, and live and love as hard as you know how, and make this moment last, because the best of times is now."  This lyric from La Cage aux Folles is at the heart of the show, and a big heart it is.  Yes there are lots of feathers and glitter and make-up in this story that takes place in a nightclub featuring men in drag, but underneath it all is a beautiful, simple, family love story.  It may be an unconventional family by society's standards, but the love and support they share are universal.

If you've seen the 1996 movie The Birdcage starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams you're familiar with the story, which began as a 1973 French play called La Cage aux Folles.  The musical version of the play was written by Harvey Fierstein (book) and Jerry Herman (music and lyrics) and premiered on Broadway in 1983.  It has been revived twice in the past decade, winning a Tony for best revival both times (the only musical do have done so).  La Cage tells the story of gay couple Georges and Albin.  Georges runs the nightclub where Albin is the star, performing as his alter ego ZaZa.  Georges' son Jean-Michel, whom Albin has helped raise, comes home to announce that he's engaged to Anne, the daughter of a conservative politician who wants to shut down all drag entertainment.  The in-laws are coming to town, and Jean-Michel asks Albin to leave for the evening, instead inviting his birth mother to pretend that they're a "normal" family.  Albin is understandably hurt that the man he considers his son is ashamed to introduce him to his fiance.  He can't stay away, and poses first as "Uncle Al," and then, in drag, as Jean-Michel's mother.  Of course the deception doesn't last, but they're able to convince Anne's father to give his consent with some good old-fashioned blackmail.  Jean-Michel realizes what a mistake he made and tells Albin he thinks of him as his mother.  And they live happily ever after, for "the best of times is now."

La Cage closed on Broadway in May after about a year's run (I thought about seeing it when I was in NYC last year, but never quite made it), and this first tour is spectacular and features several cast members from the Broadway run.  The role of Georges is played by TV and film veteran George Hamilton.  He's a perfectly adequate Georges, and considering his age (72), it's pretty remarkable that he's on the road doing this eight times a week (even if his spins are a little slower than the rest of the cast).  But the star of the show, and its heart and soul, is Christopher Sieber as Albin.  His performance is fearless, tender, funny, heart-breaking, and inspirational (and he's from Minnesota, which of course makes me love him more!).  Through him we feel Albin's insecurity that's forgotten only when he puts "A Little More Mascara" on.  Albin's transformation from utter devastation upon learning his son has rejected him to a fierce cry of self assurance in "I Am What I Am" is a show-stopper moment.  He brings such natural charm and humor and emotion to the role, it's a thing of beauty to watch.  Chris played Georges on Broadway opposite Harvey Fierstein, but it's hard to imagine him as anyone but Albin.  He's not a two-time Tony nominee for nothing, and I'm grateful he brought his considerable talent home to Minnesota if only for a short time.

The large supporting cast is great.  Jeigh Madjus as Albin's butler/maid Jacob is an irresistible little scene stealer, prancing around with attitude, just waiting for his shot on the nightclub stage.  And of course this post would not be complete without mentioning the Cagelles - the eight fabulous men who dance around the stage in heels, wigs, and hose.  They are all incredible performers, dancers, and athletes (although some make more attractive women than others ;).  It goes without saying that the costumes are fantastically over-the-top.

This show makes you fall in love with this family and forget that they don't meet the traditional definition of family.  More than 30 years after the original play was written, one would hope that some of these ideas of prejudice seem archaic and today's society would be more accepting of an atypical family.  Maybe that's why it's been revived twice in recent years, because we need to hear this message in a non-threatening musical comedy way.  After all, who could argue with the sweet and long-lasting love between Georges and Albin and their son?

La Cage is playing at the State Theatre (slightly smaller but no less beautiful than its sister theater up the street, the Orpheum) for only a week.  So get your tickets now if you want a fun, fabulous, entertaining evening with lots of heart.