La Cage aux Folles, the French farce that opens today at the 68th Street Playhouse, is the name of a nightclub in St. Tropez, in the south of France. According to the film, the club is both hugely popular and wildly notorious, though to the rest of us it seems the sort of place that could give St. Tropez a horrid reputation for being square. The Cage aux Folles puts on drag shows that feature thickly set, middle-aged men who, dressed like the chorus of the Princeton Triangle, sing and dance, and then, while taking their bows, flip off their wigs to astound the audience. The movie is based on a play by Jean Poiret that has, Im told, been very successful in France, but exactly when it was successful is difficult to guess. The nearest Broadway equivalent to the foolish, mechanical sentiment of this farce might be something on the order of Never too Late, which goes back almost 20 years. La Cage aux Folles is naughty in the way of comedies that pretend to be sophisticated but actually serve to reinforce the most popular conventions and most witless stereotypes. Its the story of Renato (Ugo Tognazzi) and Zaza (Michel Serrault), who have been lovers for 20 years and who run the Cage, Renato as the manager and Zaza, whose real name is Albin, as the star of the show. Though Renato is supposed to be the masculine member of the couple, his wrist is only slightly less limp than Zazas. The difference between them is that Zaza wears more makeup, cries more easily and complains about her lovers indifference. The would-be farcical complications revolve around the announcement of Renatos son, Laurent, that he is getting married and, to make things worse, that his fiancée is the daughter of a cabinet minister known for his rectitude, a man who is, among other things, secretary-general of the Union of Moral Order. When Laurents fiancée and her parents arrive in St. Tropez to visit, you pretty well know what the second-act curtain will be, what with Laurents real mother arriving on the scene unexpectedly, thus exposing one of Zazas most heartfelt if worst performances. There might well be a real movie here, but it is not the one directed by Edouard Molinaro and written for the screen by Francis Veber, Mr. Molinaro, Marcello Danon and Mr. Poiret. Its not only that they go for gags at the expense of character — and humor — but also that they go for such cheap gags, such as Renatos attempting to show Zaza how to walk like John Wayne. Even worse, though, is the awful sentimentality. The leading performances are very much of the style of the film itself — energetic, broad, much too knowing and superficial. Mr. Tognazzi is a fine actor, but here he looks as ridiculous as his role. Mr. Serrault, who won the French equivalent to our Oscar for his performance, is all too convincing as the hammy, temperamental transvestite. He minces more grossly than ever did Billy De Wolfe, and he lunges at pathos like someone playing right guard for the Rams. The Cast LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, directed by Edouard Molinaro; screenplay (French with English subtitles) and adaptation by Francis Veber, Mr. Molinaro, Marcello Danon and Jean Poiret, based on the play by Mr. Poiret; edited by Robert and Monique Isnardon; director of photography, Armando Mannuzzi; music by Ennio Morricone; produced by Mercello Danon; released by United Artists. At the 68th Street Playhouse, at Third Avenue. Running time: 91 minutes. This film is rated R. Renato . . . . . Ugo Tognazzi Zaza . . . . . Michel Serrault Charrier . . . . . Michel Galabru Simone . . . . . Claire Maurier Leurent . . . . . Remy Laurent Jacob . . . . . Benny Luke Madame Charrier . . . . . Carmen Scarpitta Andrea . . . . . Luisa Maneri
Posted on: Thu, 05 Dec 2013 01:29:09 +0000
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