La Cage Aux Folles

Bolton Premier Amateur Operatic Society

Albert Halls, Bolton.

Runs until Saturday. By DOREEN CROWTHER BOLTON Premier Amateur Operatic's Society's decision to re-stage this show which they mounted so successfully last year is a brave one.

They are banking on the fact that they will again pull in the audiences for a musical which has acquired cult status. They deserve to succeed.

Although the award-winnng team of Marje Brayshaw, director and choreographer, Gillian Streatfield, musical director and Alan Parker, stage manager, is the same, some of the principals and chorus are different.

Last year's production was a hard act to follow. That this current show retains much of the magic is due largely to the talent of Colin Dean as Albin who again manages a potent mix of pathos and comedy as the "wife".

John Peacock is a charming Georges and both performers not only sing well, but sensitively interpret the moving lyrics.

Chris Cooper is an outrageous scene stealer as the butler-cum-maid Jacob and Chris Lunt is a likeable Jean Michel.

As Monsieur and Madame Dindon, Carol Goldsworthy and David Watson are suitably stuffy about the homosexual relationship of Albin and George and the couple's involvement with the notorious La Cage Aux Folles where the boys strut their stuff in dresses.

In the small part of Jacqueline, Doreen Baker is impressive.

The Cagelles - the club's dancers - form an entertaining line-up although this year I found it easier to tell the boys from the girls despite the exotic outfits. But I admit I was not always right!

Scenery and costumes are magnificent. And it was not the society's fault that some of the sound equipment was acting up last night. The performers did well to ignore the gremlins.

Bolton Premier responded to audience demand in re-staging La Cage. Certainly, it is a show which is well worth watching again.

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