La Cage aux Folles Reviews
Los Angeles Times- Recommended
"...Briones and Watanabe radiate a delightfully off-kilter rapport, stopping the show at "With You on My Arm." Briones' rapid-vibrato baritone and vivid energy are dead-on, particularly in "Song On the Sand" and "Look Over There." Watanabe weds fluttering grandeur to palpable vulnerability - his stillness at the Act 1 climax segues into the most affecting "I Am What I Am" since Christopher Sieber on tour in 2012 and David Engel at Musical Theatre West in 2007."
Broadway World- Recommended
"...The East West Players' latest production, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, most successfully communicates the heart and humor of Tony Award-winners Harvey Fierstein (for Book in 1984) and Jerry Herman (for Lyrics & Music in 1984), injecting an Asian flavor as only East West can do. Still set in St. Tropez, France; the La Cage Aux Folles nightclub's now predominately decorated in Chinese reds and golds, with dragons, kimonos, tassels and mandarin hats tossed in."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's La Cage Aux Folles is back in L.A. thanks to East West Players, and as anyone who's seen one of EWP's annual Broadway musical revivals will tell you, this means yet another thrillingly reimagined Asian take on a contemporary musical theater classic."
ArtsInLA- Highly Recommended
"...Allen Lucky Weaver is hilarious as Albin's butler, who wants to be recognized instead as his maid. The supporting cast is uniformly beguiling, particularly Christopher Aguilar, Carlos Chang, DT Matias, Alex Sanchez, and Reuben Uy as the significantly pared-down Cagelle dancers. Under the sharp yet fluid direction of Tim Dang, complimented perfectly by his remarkably clever design team and the energetic, delightfully tongue-in-cheek choreography by Reggie Lee, instead of relying on Ru Paul overindulgence, the modest but versatile David Henry Hwang stage is filled with energy and personal passion without huge sets resembling a hotel lobby in Dubai. La Cage is, to paraphrase the famous words of its own legendary composer-lyricist, back where it belongs."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...If you have seen The Bird Cage - the 1996 film inspired, like this production, by Jean Poiret's 1973 French farce (also titled La Cage Aux Folles) - you will understand the frenetic energy and charismatic performances that are needed to make this story succeed. (Honestly, Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, and Hank Azaria set the bar pretty high.) Here, lead performers Briones and Watanabe serve up rather lovely performances and have some touching moments together. However, they fail to hit a home run in terms of emotional resonance and star quality, and their chemistry suggests more of a platonic friendship than a long-standing love affair."