Fierstein & Herman’s 80’s Musical Soars with Hope & Joy

by Jenyth Jo

In 2017, reviewer Michael Billington rightly claimed, “No piece of theatre has done as much to encourage sexual tolerance” as “La Cage aux Folles.” Today, it appears our president wants to return to 1983, when conservatives criticized the gay love story.

No way, say the folks at The Rhino. Their tiny 29-seat storefront becomes a cabaret topped with a fluffy white cloud chandelier. Suggestive cut-outs on shiny satin glitter walls and lavender, feather fans proclaim their gay aesthetic. Once the pre-show begins, we are treated to charming French chansons, terrific comic cabaret dancers, and the epitome of love.

By the time we leave the rollicking Rhino, we all know: “I am my own special creation.”

This “Cage” shows a gay family at work: a parent who refuses to choose sides, but keeps their triangle equilateral. In drag or out, these gay parents make sure their loving unit comes first.

Two middle-aged gay lovers, Albin (Christopher Juan) and Georges (John Mannion), who live above their Saint Tropez gay cabaret, really come alive downstairs in the club. Albin “tucks away” biological gender, becoming fabulous drag queen Zaza. The actors exhibit extraordinary chemistry, in and out of glamorous gowns and beautiful wigs. Zaza sparkles.

When their 24-year old son Jean-Michel (Landyn Endo) returns engaged to a young woman whose parents belong to the “Tradition, Family, and Morality Party,” Jean-Michel asks his fathers to conceal their identities. Jean-Michel even wants his absent biological mother to replace Zaza at the engagement dinner. Ouch.

Superb lighting narrows to focus the moment Zaza finds out he’s not wanted. Albin’s frozen expression heats up the scene. There are no words for Albin’s pain, quickly magnified into fear: Will our son reject us once he’s married?

In the fabulous “Masculinity” number, Georges trains Zaza to imitate John Wayne, so he can appear at the party as “Uncle Al.” Displaying brilliant physical and vocal variety, Zaza tries to UN-sissy his walk into a he-man strut.  You can not cage a drag queen, even with a crash course in toxic masculinity. Bring back those five-inch heels!

As dinner looms, femme maid Jacob (hilarious SNJV) tries to ‘straighten up the home’ and himself. Confronted by the homophobes, their façade leads to high comedy.

Directors Crystal Liu and John Fisher ‘s staging of the engagement dinner vividly contrasts the gay family with the straight family. Extreme conservative Deputy General Dandon (Mark J. Enea) and his family wear bulbous nose masks that betray their patriarchal prejudices. But Zaza’s warmth and open arms present an alternative fab family.

Landyn Endo transforms Jean-Michel’s limited role with beautiful acrobatic stunts. Hanging gracefully in a suspended hoop, Endo poses with rose in hand. They remind us of Zaza’s brilliance.

When Georges sings “Song on the Sand,” a captivating tune about young love, we swoon in waltz time, relishing his devotion to Zaza. Despite the haters, their twenty-year relationship is inspiring.

But make no mistake: this president’s erasure of anti-discrimination policies, workplace protections, and healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community threatens all of us. Moving backward is not an option. Love must be legal for everyone.

 

“La Cage aux Folles” –book by Harvey Fierstein, music & lyrics by Jerry Herman, based on the play “La Cage aux Folles” by Jean Poiret, directed by Crystal Liu & John Fisher, costumes by Bonita Rose, set by Aaron Simunovich & Christina Linskey, lighting by Colin Johnson, music by Armando Fox, drag/wig/hair by Bobby Friday, at Theatre Rhinoceros, 18^th Street & Castro, San Francisco.

Info:   therhino.org – to June 7, 2026.

Cast:  Chloë Angst, Landyn Endo, Mark J. Enea, Christopher “Chi-Chi Kago” Juan, John Mannion, Sidney McNulty, Akhila Narayanan, and SNJV.

Banner photo: Akhila Narayanan as “Anne/Chantal,” Sidney McNulty as “Marie/Mme Renaud/Phaedra,” Christopher Juan (aka Chi-Chi Kago) as “Albin/Zaza,” SNJV as “Jacob,” Chloë Angst as “Jacqueline/Hanna.” Photos by Scott Sidorsky