Whether you know the play, the movie adaptation or the smash-hit broadway musical, La Cage Aux Folles is a brilliant, heart-warming musical that has a strong message about family, commitment – all the while showered in sequins.
Since its first performance on Broadway in 1983, the musical has won multiple Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards and Laurence Olivier Awards. After not being seen in Adelaide for many years, La Cage Aux Folles is playing at The Arts Theatre for a limited season, thanks to Adelaide’s own Metropolitan Theatre Company.
Featuring an entirely South Australian cast, The Arts Theatre is bursting at the seams with feathers, sequins and glitz. And at the helm of this production is Adelaide-based director, musical director and artist Ben Saunders. Ben brings a wealth of theatrical knowledge to this production after directing and musically directing an impressive CV of shows.
In the lead up to La Cage Aux Folles’s opening night, Ben spoke to Glam Adelaide about the show, as well as what he finds so infectious and magical about theatre.
“It’s the combination of the way that all these elements come together in this one moment each night on stage that doesn’t exist outside of that space. It’s only in that environment where all of these moving parts come together to create this experience. It’s a feeling you can’t get anywhere else. I’ve tried to get it from just music and it isn’t quite the same. It’s only when all these elements come together – the costuming, the lighting, sound, backstage, all the mechanics working together – that you get this magical creation you can’t find anywhere else. It’s very addictive. I also love the collaborative storytelling elements as well. When working with a group of people to present a beautiful story, it doesn’t get much better than that.“
We asked Ben if he prefers directing over music directing, or if he enjoys the challenges that each area brings.
“I get different things from both of those different areas. I mean, I love the music, I love being in the pit with a band and creating that side of the magic. But from the directing point of view it allows me to also veer into the visual side of the production, which is something that I thoroughly enjoy. I love creating storytelling and imagery feelings through conjuring up these images in the scenes and working with the lighting, costume design and set design.”
Outside of theatre, Ben is a visual artist, producing stunning works centred around nature.
“Most of my inspiration comes from nature and the personal interaction and engagement with nature. It kind of started around COVID time, and I know that’s for a lot of people, that that was a big shift. It made me realise the importance of spending time in the natural environment and how therapeutic and healing that environment can be. So my art kind of seeks to interpret and to present my take on that natural world and to bring it into other people’s lives, so they can enjoy and interact with it and benefit from it as I do.”
La Cage Aux Folles is the story of a flamboyant gay couple who must pretend to be straight for one night — with one of the men in drag — to dupe the conservative political family of their son’s fiancee.
“My love for La Cage started in 1997 when I was in the Mayfair company’s production of it, as one of the Les Cagelles. I just loved the messages in it – it’s a funny old show. It’s very traditional in the way it’s actually put together as a show, by the storytelling and the way it leans on the comedy. The score by Jerry Herman is just stunning. He brings all his traditional musical theatre values to the show as well.”
La Cage Aux Folles is playing at The Arts Theatre on Angas Street from Thursday 8th May until Saturday 17th May.
“I’m excited about audiences seeing the representation of two central gay characters on stage and their relationship – the ups and downs that we all face. I am also very excited for them to have a great entertaining night out. The message is just beautiful, and that’s the true power of this show. You can take away all the sequins and feathers, but it’s that core message at its heart that I really hope people take away with them.”
La Cage Aux Folles
Presented by The Metropolitan Theatre Company South Australia
May 8 – 17, 2025
Tickets: https://metmusicals.com.au/
Photo credit: Daniel Salmond
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