Roger Allam and original cast member Philip Quast are to take over from Graham Norton and Steven Pacey in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse theatre from 4 May. The comedy musical, which won two Laurence Olivier Awards on Sunday, also extends its run to 9 January 2010.
Jerry Herman’s musical is set in St Tropez where Georges owns cabaret club La Cage Aux Folles, which he runs with the help of his lover Albin, whose drag act is the club’s star attraction. When Georges’s son announces he is to be married and his ultra-conservative future in-laws are coming to meet them, Georges decides he and Albin must make certain alterations to their lifestyle. A timeless story about unconditional love and staying true to yourself, La Cage Aux Folles features the show-stopping number I Am What I Am.
Allam will be back to shaving his legs when he takes over from Norton in the role of Albin/Zaza; the actor previously donned drag for a production of Privates On Parade at the Donmar Warehouse, which earned him a Laurence Olivier Award in 2002. Allam’s numerous other London stage credits include Blackbird, Boeing Boeing, Democracy, The Cherry Orchard, Afterlife, The Giant and Money.
Three-times Laurence Olivier Award-winner Quast returns to the role of Georges, which he created when this production of La Cage Aux Folles premiered at the Menier Chocolate Factory in late 2007. Quast is no stranger to musicals, having appeared in London productions of Evita, South Pacific, Sweeney Todd and Sunday In The Park With George.
Terry Johnson’s production arrived at the Playhouse theatre in October last year, with original Albin Douglas Hodge and Denis Lawson playing Georges. Both actors were nominated for Best Actor in a Musical in this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards, with Hodge triumphing over his erstwhile co-star. The show also collected the Best Musical Revival prize.
Norton and Pacey, who took over in January, had been due to star in the show until 25 April but will now remain for a further week, until Allam and Quast arrive on 4 May. Further cast changes are to be announced.
CB